The following is from a serial column by Takayama Masayuki, which will be the last issue of Weekly Shincho, which was released today.
This article also proves that he is a unique journalist in the postwar world.
This article also proves he is worthy of the Nobel Prize in Literature or Peace Prize.
It is a must-read not only for Japanese people but for people worldwide.
Fighting Refreshingly
During the war, the 48th Division, under the command of Lieutenant General Tsuchihashi Yuitsu, advanced into Portuguese East Timor and remained stationed there until the end of the war.
Waseda University professor Goto Kenichi wrote in the Asahi Shimbun that this occupation was so brutal that it was hard to bear.
The article says that "the Japanese army ignored the protests of Portugal" and occupied the island, "procuring food locally," and executed many of the residents who "cooperated with the Allied guerrilla activities."
The article concludes that "40,000 islanders died" after starving to death due to food shortages caused by the lack of food supplies.
Keio University professor Aiko Kurasawa also echoed the argument, saying that "dozens of women on the island were made sex slaves."
She portrayed the Japanese military as "vicious and brutal."
Asahi Shimbun's editor-in-chief, Funabashi Yoichi, followed the advice of these scholars and wrote a column calling for "paying 1 billion dollars in reparations to East Timor."
The government also paid a similar amount.
Incidentally, after the war, not a single member of the 48th Division was charged with war crimes.
Why?
The Defense Ministry's "Annual Report on War History Research" contains an article by Nomura Yoshimasa that calls the claims of Goto Kenichi and others a complete lie.
It is the more accurate version.
The article points out that the island was part of neutral Portuguese territory and, therefore, was not a target for occupation.
However, shortly after the war began, Australian and Dutch forces landed and occupied the island in a self-serving manner.
In fact, Yamashita Shinichi, a Showa Women's University professor stationed on the island, testified that "Dai Nippon Airways had begun regular service between the capital Dili and Yokohama, and the base was located on the island."
The Australian and Dutch forces had this aim in mind, so they destroyed the air base and detained Dai Nippon Airways employees.
In the past, it was normal for Japanese nationals to be rescued if detained in a neutral country.
Japan received permission from the Portuguese government to occupy the island to rescue Japanese nationals and landed on the island in February 1942, defeating the Australian and Dutch forces and protecting the Japanese nationals.
This alone makes it clear how much of a lie Goto Kenichi's article was. When the Japanese troops were about to leave after wiping out the remaining enemies, the natives rioted.
West Timor, on the west side of the island, was Dutch territory, and as a result of the Japanese army defeating the Dutch East Indies, the poll tax and salt tax that had plagued the residents were abolished.
However, the eastern half was Portuguese territory.
The taxes remained the same.
The residents complained that this was unfair, and the Portuguese began to be attacked.
They asked us to garrison the island, saying, "Please protect them."
Strategically, a garrison is desirable, but suppressing the residents is not our intention.
So we got them to approve lifting the ban on farming tools, binding the residents, and abolishing the salt tax.
The rebellious residents could not even hold sickles or hatchets.
The residents were pleased.
However, even if they garrisoned the island, the 48th Division was motorized.
The island had no roads.
They could not fight off the Australian troops like that, so they hired 30,000 residents and began building roads.
At the same time, according to Nomura's paper, they also began cultivating 10,000 hectares of rice paddies to provide food for self-sufficiency.
The farmers who had farming tools worked hard, and they succeeded in growing rice twice a year.
Rice is now a staple food for the island's residents.
Nomura's paper says that there were two comfort stations.
One was a private facility that housed Javanese and Korean comfort women.
The other was set up by the residents, who contributed their women.
On this island, "village disputes have been resolved amicably by offering women. We cooperated with them based on that feeling."
The problem was the Australian military, which sent in spies three times to investigate the situation.
However, the local residents immediately reported the incursions, and with their help, they were captured all three times.
They guaranteed their lives, had the Japanese troops telegraph that they were a large force, and sometimes had them drop alcohol and cigarettes in the dark of night.
It is said that these lucky strikes were effective.
"Thanks to this false information, the Australian military did not lay hands on East Timor until the end of the war" (Yamashita Shinichi)
On August 10, 1945, a radio message was sent to the spy saying, "Rejoice! Japan has surrendered."
The Japanese side replied in the name of the division commander, "Thank you for the information."
The other side was shocked and asked about the spy's safety.
He was handed over the following week.
The Allied forces did not investigate this case.
I understand that very well.
The Division fought bracingly.
In contrast, Goto Kenichi and the Asahi Shimbun are ugly.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
This article also proves that he is a unique journalist in the postwar world.
This article also proves he is worthy of the Nobel Prize in Literature or Peace Prize.
It is a must-read not only for Japanese people but for people worldwide.
Fighting Refreshingly
During the war, the 48th Division, under the command of Lieutenant General Tsuchihashi Yuitsu, advanced into Portuguese East Timor and remained stationed there until the end of the war.
Waseda University professor Goto Kenichi wrote in the Asahi Shimbun that this occupation was so brutal that it was hard to bear.
The article says that "the Japanese army ignored the protests of Portugal" and occupied the island, "procuring food locally," and executed many of the residents who "cooperated with the Allied guerrilla activities."
The article concludes that "40,000 islanders died" after starving to death due to food shortages caused by the lack of food supplies.
Keio University professor Aiko Kurasawa also echoed the argument, saying that "dozens of women on the island were made sex slaves."
She portrayed the Japanese military as "vicious and brutal."
Asahi Shimbun's editor-in-chief, Funabashi Yoichi, followed the advice of these scholars and wrote a column calling for "paying 1 billion dollars in reparations to East Timor."
The government also paid a similar amount.
Incidentally, after the war, not a single member of the 48th Division was charged with war crimes.
Why?
The Defense Ministry's "Annual Report on War History Research" contains an article by Nomura Yoshimasa that calls the claims of Goto Kenichi and others a complete lie.
It is the more accurate version.
The article points out that the island was part of neutral Portuguese territory and, therefore, was not a target for occupation.
However, shortly after the war began, Australian and Dutch forces landed and occupied the island in a self-serving manner.
In fact, Yamashita Shinichi, a Showa Women's University professor stationed on the island, testified that "Dai Nippon Airways had begun regular service between the capital Dili and Yokohama, and the base was located on the island."
The Australian and Dutch forces had this aim in mind, so they destroyed the air base and detained Dai Nippon Airways employees.
In the past, it was normal for Japanese nationals to be rescued if detained in a neutral country.
Japan received permission from the Portuguese government to occupy the island to rescue Japanese nationals and landed on the island in February 1942, defeating the Australian and Dutch forces and protecting the Japanese nationals.
This alone makes it clear how much of a lie Goto Kenichi's article was. When the Japanese troops were about to leave after wiping out the remaining enemies, the natives rioted.
West Timor, on the west side of the island, was Dutch territory, and as a result of the Japanese army defeating the Dutch East Indies, the poll tax and salt tax that had plagued the residents were abolished.
However, the eastern half was Portuguese territory.
The taxes remained the same.
The residents complained that this was unfair, and the Portuguese began to be attacked.
They asked us to garrison the island, saying, "Please protect them."
Strategically, a garrison is desirable, but suppressing the residents is not our intention.
So we got them to approve lifting the ban on farming tools, binding the residents, and abolishing the salt tax.
The rebellious residents could not even hold sickles or hatchets.
The residents were pleased.
However, even if they garrisoned the island, the 48th Division was motorized.
The island had no roads.
They could not fight off the Australian troops like that, so they hired 30,000 residents and began building roads.
At the same time, according to Nomura's paper, they also began cultivating 10,000 hectares of rice paddies to provide food for self-sufficiency.
The farmers who had farming tools worked hard, and they succeeded in growing rice twice a year.
Rice is now a staple food for the island's residents.
Nomura's paper says that there were two comfort stations.
One was a private facility that housed Javanese and Korean comfort women.
The other was set up by the residents, who contributed their women.
On this island, "village disputes have been resolved amicably by offering women. We cooperated with them based on that feeling."
The problem was the Australian military, which sent in spies three times to investigate the situation.
However, the local residents immediately reported the incursions, and with their help, they were captured all three times.
They guaranteed their lives, had the Japanese troops telegraph that they were a large force, and sometimes had them drop alcohol and cigarettes in the dark of night.
It is said that these lucky strikes were effective.
"Thanks to this false information, the Australian military did not lay hands on East Timor until the end of the war" (Yamashita Shinichi)
On August 10, 1945, a radio message was sent to the spy saying, "Rejoice! Japan has surrendered."
The Japanese side replied in the name of the division commander, "Thank you for the information."
The other side was shocked and asked about the spy's safety.
He was handed over the following week.
The Allied forces did not investigate this case.
I understand that very well.
The Division fought bracingly.
In contrast, Goto Kenichi and the Asahi Shimbun are ugly.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
2024/8/26 in Onomichi
