Japan’s recent WWII memorial ceremony sparked global backlash after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba avoided acknowledging wartime aggression and sent offerings to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals. 📜 A CGTN survey of 11,913 people across 40 countries reveals 64.4% oppose Japanese politicians visiting the shrine, while 65.7% demand official apologies and reparations to affected nations. 💥
Asia’s Anger Amplified 🇰🇷🇵🇭
Over 90% of South Korean respondents criticized Japan’s historical revisionism, with 84% in Malaysia and 80%+ in Indonesia and the Philippines demanding accountability. 🔥 Meanwhile, only 18.3% of Japanese respondents supported reparations—a stark contrast to global sentiment.
Germany vs. Japan: A Post-War Divide 🇩🇪⚖️
Global approval for Germany’s historical reckoning outstrips Japan by 48.8 percentage points. Over 70% praised Germany’s reparations and education efforts, while Japan’s military expansion and textbook edits fuel distrust. 🚩
Credibility Crisis? 🌐⚠️
57% of respondents say Japan’s postwar actions hinder relations with China, while 50.7% claim it damages Japan’s global image. In South Korea, 80%+ agree. Even Singapore and Thailand show skepticism. 🧐
As debates over history intensify, one thing’s clear: the world is watching. 👀
