While I understand Mike’s point, let me also say that my mother grew up in Korea during the Japanese occupation. While Japan has been a relatively peaceful nation since the end of World War II, my family members can tell of another Japan at another time.

I am not writing this to bash Japan (the USA in this day and time is not exactly what one calls a peaceful nation, and I prefer the modern Japanese example to our own), but to point out that many Asians still remember Japanese rule during the first half of the 20th Century. Indeed, one can argue that much of the aid Japan gives to other Asian countries can be seen as a form of “guilt money.”

Again, I intend no insult to Mike or Japan. But there is a history that the Japanese have purposely ignored, but my family members still can tell of it.