Japan Marks 'Restoration Of Sovereignty' For The First Time

[freshwest]

Japan Marks 'Restoration Of Sovereignty' For The First Time

by Krishnadev Calamur
April 28, 2013

Japan marked for the first time Sunday the end of the allied occupation of the country following its defeat in World War II.

"We have a responsibility to make Japan a strong and resolute country that others across the world can rely on," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a ceremony in Tokyo that was attended by dignitaries, including Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

During the election campaign that returned him to power last December, Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party promised to mark April 28 as "Restoration of Sovereignty Day." April 28, 1952, was when the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect, marking the official end of World War II and the allied occupation of Japan. Since his election, Abe has surged in the polls on the back of both his economic prescriptions for a stagnant economy as well as his plan to rewrite the country's pacifist, post-war constitution. Such a move would loosen restrictions on the country's armed forces.

The developments have worried China and South Korea, both of which were occupied by the Japanese during World War II.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/28/179664908/japan-marks-restoration-of-sovereignty-for-the-first-time

I feel sure that Japan, China and South Korea will pool their considerable knowledge base and hard-working people to improve the lives of all in that region.

[AsahinaKimi]

1. sugoi !

ii desuyo! yokatta ne!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. It also serves as a handy way of extending Golden Week

Showa Day=April 29
Constitution Day=May 3
Greenery Day=May 4
Children's Day=May 5

Golden Week (they use the English words "Gooruden Wiiku&quot is the week in which a series of holidays fall. It also features some of the best weather (warm, but not yet humid) of the year, so many businesses just shut down and give their employees the week off.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. There is an interesting recent article by the Chugoku Shimbun newspaper

While the Abe government is marking the 61st anniversary of the San Francisco Treaty and restoration of sovereignty to the "mainland", the people of Okinawa refer to April 28th as the "Day of Humiliation" ("Kutsujoku no Hi&quot , because Okinawa, the Ogasawaras, and various other Japanese islands remained under US military jurisdiction until the 1970s, and a large part of Okinawa is still occupied by US bases. To show their displeasure, the Okinawa prefectural assembly voted unanimously to oppose the ceremony. Some factions of the assembly even voted to hold a counter ceremony in protest.

http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/Syasetu/Sh201304250131.html