What I mostly don't agree with is the general Japanese denial in the way it is not accurately taught in schools. You can't just mention a footnote. But do you know what, when I went to school I barely had any lessons about British war atrocities. They weren't denied, but kids aren't taught them. I learned about the Vikings, Romans, Tudors, all of the famous British war victories. Do many countries teach about war atrocities or famous defeats? Britain has a very long list of victories, naturally, but there are many negative examples that could be used. Maybe it's different now with modern schools?
Perhaps they don't see the benefit of teaching children about things that happened 100 to 500 years ago. In the case of Japan, the modern society accepts the ills of World War 2, they are acutely aware of it, but I don't imagine people living in 2020 Japan have many thoughts of apologising for things that happened so long ago, they can't identify with it at all. It's up to politicians to do those things, but at some point you also draw a line whether it comes from words or reparations or whatever. It's not going to make mobs of Chinese suddenly like the Japanese, it doesn't work like that there. But on an international level it looks respectful.
And yes of course, it happened to the Chinese, so largely no one cares. Might be sad but it's true. The Japanese saw them as dogs, they saw everyone as dogs though. They thought people who surrendered were less than dogs, and they were treated accordingly. Imperialist Japan is not the Japan of today, it's almost laughably different, and their national psyche changed forever after the (literal) fallout of WWII.
There is an inevitable nationalist uprising in Japan, because they see modern Chinese military expansion and aggression, they see the sexless male population and what a bunch of techno pussies they have become. But this has included an alternate history for far too long. Japanese teens should at least be taught why Chinese teens hate them so much, not that it will help in any way.
Oh shit this is the Bundesliga thread...