Richard Lloyd Parry in Hirakata, Japan
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From Times Online
February 25, 2007
Dissect them alive: order not to be disobeyed
For 62 years, Akira Makino spoke not a word of what he’d done, but to those who knew him well it must have been obvious that he was a man with a tortured conscience. Why else would he have returned so often to the obscure, mosquito-blown town in the southern Philippines where he had experience such misery during the Second World War?
He set up war memorials, gave clothes to poor children, and bought an entire set of uniforms for a local baseball team. Last year, at the age of 83, he embarked on a gruelling pilgrimage to 88 Buddhist temples in Japan - after number 40 he collapsed from heat exhaustion, having permanently injured his knees. “My wife didn’t like me going back to the Philippines, she called me ’war crazy’,” said Mr Makino, a frailold man who lives alone in Hirakata near Osaka. “But she let me go anyway. Right up until she died three years ago, I never told her. But over time I think she realised.” Only in the twilight of his life, has Mr Makino begun to talk about the secret which he had carried.
In 1944, as a medical auxiliary in the Japanese Imperial Navy, he was stationed in the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. There he was party to one of the most notorious and poorly chronicled cruelties of the Japanese war effort - the medical dissection and murder of living prisoners of war.
Over the course of four months before the defeat of the Japanese forces in March 1945, Mr Makino cut open the bodies of ten Filipino prisoners, including two teenage girls. He amputated their limbs, and cut up and removed their healthy livers, kidneys, wombs and still beating hearts for no better reason than to improve his knowledge of anatomy.
“It was educational,” he said. “Even today when I go to see doctors, they are impressed by my knowledge of the human body. But if I’m really honest, the reason we did it was to take revenge on these people who were spying for the Americans. Now, of course I feel terrible about the cruel thing that I did, and I think of it so often. But at the time what I felt for these people was closer to hatred than to pity.” There have been other accounts of medical vivisection, most notoriously by Unit 731, a top secret arm of the Imperial Army which killed thousands of Chinese and Russian prisoners in Manchuria in the name of scientific research. But Mr Makino’s is the first such testimony to have emerged from the Philippines - and from the Navy, which was regarded as the less cruel and fanatical of the Imperial armed forces.
Apart from the extraordinary climax of his wartime story, Mr Makino comes across as typical of Japanese of his generation - a polite, well meaning man who lacked the immense courage and daring which would have been needed to stand up to the Imperial war machine. He was born in 1922 and grew in the port city of Kobe, where he joined the Navy in 1940. After training as a medical corpsman, he found himself sailing to and fro across East Asia in the mighty Yamato, the biggest battleship ever created. By 1942, though, the Imperial forces were on the defensive and even to sailors such as Mr Makino, defeat seemed inevitable.
“New soldiers started arriving, and they were younger and younger, 15 or 16 years old,” he remembers. “We said, ’Where are you guns?’, and they replied, ’We have no guns - but we have bamboo spears.’ It was then I knew that we had already lost the war.” It was in such an atmosphere that he found himself in Zamboanga, a Muslim town in the far south-west of the Philippines.
The local population were the Moro people, an assortment of jungle tribes legendary as ferocious head hunters. The occupying Japanese feared and hated them; as the US forces drew closer, they arrested many of them as “spies”, and threw them into a hellish pit where they were left to rot. “I don’t know whether they really were spies or not,” said Mr Makino. “All that was needed was for someone to say that they were. We knew that we’d lost the war. Our psychological state was very strange by then. In those conditions, we could do anything, absolutely anything.” It began with a practice which has been described by a number of former Japanese soldiers - the “testing” of traditional Japanese swords on live prisoners. “There were university graduates who had no idea how to fight, but who were officers because of their education,” Mr Makino says. “They carried swords, but never used them. They’d say, ’Bring the POWs - we will see how sharp these swords are!’ So they tied up the prisoners and chopped their heads off. But the swords were so rusty, they couldn’t do it cleanly.”
One day towards the end of 1944, Mr Makino was summoned by his commanding officer, a navy doctor whom, even now, he declines to name. “I was his number two, and he told me that if anything happened to him, I had to take over from him. He told me to come and see a vivisection.
“The first time it was one prisoner, a middle aged man. He’d already given up - there was no struggle. He was tied to the bed and anaesthetised with ether, so that he was completely unconscious. The Lieutenant showed me what to do. He cut him open, and pointed out, ’Here’s the liver, here’s the kidneys, here’s the heart.’ The heart was still beating, then he cut the heart open and showed me the inside. That was when he died.” “I didn’t want to do it, but it was an order, you see. At that time, if a commander gave you an order it was understood that it was the order of the Emperor, and the Emperor was a god. I had no choice - if I had disobeyed, I would have been killed.” The “operation” took about an hour; when it was over the body was sewn up and thrown into a hole in the earth. Eight more vivisections followed, Mr Makino said, up to three hours long. “Over the course of time, I got used to it,” he said. “We removed some of the organs, and amputated legs and arms. Two of the victims were women, young women, 18 or 19 years old. I hesitate to say it, but we opened up their wombs to show the younger soldiers. They knew very little about women - it was sex education.
“I admired the lieutenant, and I was flattered that he asked me to do this because he really trusted me. I felt truly honoured. But now I know I was used.” When the Americans landed in force in March 1945, the Japanese scattered into the jungle. Mr Makino spent seven months there, until well after the Japanese surrender, living like an animal off cats, snakes, lizards and licking water off leaves, utterly alone. A photograph take of him after his rescue by locals shows a living skeleton. But as soon as he had returned to Japan, the feelings of remorse began.
He married, had two sons, worked in a hospital and became a salaryman for a construction company. And whenever he could he returned to Zamboanga. He published a pamphlet about his experiences and spoke in schools about the horrors of war. But he never spoke of the experiments, until October when he was being interviewed by a Japanese newspaper. “It slipped out,” he said. “But now I have talked about it, I must not stop.” Apart from a few local papers, a second interview on the news agency, Kyodo, was largely ignored by the Japanese media, an indication perhaps of the reluctance to air the subject of wartime atrocities. “No one else who knew about it survived, and it is a miracle that I am alive,” said Mr Makino. “I have to talk about it, to tell the story to children who know nothing about such things. It brings me peace to a certain extent, but not a complete peace. I was under orders, you see. But I know that I did a terrible thing.”
I must put into perspective that this is one of the 'lesser' war crimes done by the Japanese human experimentations. Famous bases, such as Unit 731, reported that most human vivisection are done without anesthesia. Although Mr. Akira Makino is admirable in he's efforts to repent for his crimes, one person cannot apologize for the hundreds who are not remorseful. I am a 16 year old Chinese immigrant from Canada. Over the years, my parents have complained about the 'evils' of Japan. I do not believe in this hatred and did not understand. Now I have realize where the rivally stemmed - the lack of formal apology by the Japanese government. Comparitive to the Holocaust, these crimes are inhumane. However, what differs is the consequences of these crimes. The Germans are consently paying for their crimes yet the Japanese raised these crimes into heroic acts. Japan is a fantastic country in most aspects, but I believe some efforts of apology need to be put in to tie up old bitter rivalries.
Dianna, Calgary,
All I can say to those who decry the 'barbarity' of the incident is try reading the article properly. The article states that the vivisection victims were anaesthetised and hence, completely unconscious during their supposed 'torture'. If all the victims were unconscious during the dissection, how is this any different to them being shot in the head? This event seems to have been completely blown out of proportion given humanities history of thousands of years of cruelty and bloodshed. Read up on 'Vlad the impaler' or the roman emperor Caligula if you want to hear about true cruelty. This has more to do with group psychology than religion or race. Moral standards are not absolute, they are rather, a shallow, artificial, culture and period-specific construct designed to maintain social cohesion. Do not presume to judge this man- you were not there, in his circumstances. And to all you Christians that have posted, use reason as a basis for arguments not arbitrary, 'god-given' laws
Stuart, Auckland, New Zealand
All I can say to those decrying the 'barbarity' of the event, is try reading the article properly. It says that the vivisection victims were anaesthetised and hence completely unconscious when this supposed 'torture' was carried out. If all the victims were unconscious before they were dissected then how is this worse for them, than being shot in the head? This incident seems to have been completely blown out of proportion given humanity's history of thousands of years of cruelty and savagery. Read up on 'Vlad the impaler' or Caligula if you want to hear about true cruelty. This event has very little if nothing to do with race or religion and more to do with group psychology. Morality is defined by the period and culture in which people live in and is a shallow construct designed to maintain social cohesion. Do not presume to judge this man- you were not there. And to all the bible bashers out there, use reason to make judgements rather than artificial arbitrary edicts.
Stuart, Auckland, New Zealand
That man needs to be arrested and charged with war crimes in the Philippines where he committed those atrocities. Just as the nazi's were tried for their crimes and was brought to justice so should Mr. Akira Makino. I have no pitty for anyone who did those horrible and unfathonable acts to human beings let alone animals. today we now punish those who abuse animals so there is no reason why he should be spared because of his age or the time that has past. Since murder has no statute of limitations, he needs to turn himself in.
Lawrence L. Modic, Cleveland, Ohio
The atrocities of war may not be able to be revoked, but that gives us no right to judge others. Our past is something we have to live with. Remember that to inflict pain is to hurt yourself. The victims of this war had to endure terrible pain, but only for a few hours of their life. These men have had all their lives to live with their mistakes. This man is trying to atone for all he has done. He did do some terrible things, but we need to remember that we are all human. Forgive this man. Don't condemn like those before us, for that makes us like them. If we can not forgive, then to hope for peace is futile.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
Matthew 5:7 (NIV)
Jonathan , Sycamore,
i think we need to leave this man alone. Let him atone in his own way. The murders are over, only the images in his mind remain, haunting him. He needs to heal, and he has come forth to do so. It sickens me when people live in a past they never even existed in. "He was there, he knows what happened, he is taking responsibility. in my book he has become an honorable man.
richard, wiota, iowa
I remember seeing a news expose, quite riveting if disgusting, about the Chinese only recently, about 5 or 10 years ago, and probably still yet, skinning animals, dogs, cats and so forth for their fur to be used in any number of ways, lining for coats, ornaments, etc. It sickened me and i could not get the images out of my head of this poor dog standing their wagging his tail as a signall of submission to those who were to execute and use him in the most cruel way. I did not watch but a few minutes, but it was too long, too horrible, to sad, and it still haunts me to this day. And now this new horror. Man IS DEFEINITELY the most dangerous animal on earth.
Anne Robertson, Kansas City, MA
Don't get me wrong. Being that communist China is still committing atrocities every day even now, doesn't make what this man did any less than what it was: an atrocity. I do however feel that at the very least he is doing what he can to make up for what he did. At the very least he is not going to his grave with his secret and trying to save face. He is remorseful and in my heart, I think that is something good and better than saying nothing. -- It is easy to tell that this man is not making things up to get attention. He has been visiting the place where crimes were committed for years. It is good that he has had a chance to speak out. We need way more of this! God is listening to him. The more people are on the side of good, the less these things will be done in the future.
I bring up what is happening in China, because it is hard to believe that these things are still going on today!!! Also, in response to comment from Petras. Cheers.
Sam, Chicago, USA/ IL
After 62 years in silence there is unpossible, in my opinion, to talk about remission! In all religions the remission follows the expiate, but this man had pass all his life in a confortable way, isn'it? He remind me the new yugoslavian "heroes" during the '90. What kind of soldeirs they was? Capable only to quarter little girls! What kind of remission he asks now? Was this the "Imperial Sun"? Also my grandfather was soldeir in Greece in the wrong side, but he was a soldeir, never a dirty butcher! Deep shame for you Mr. Makino, not only for your crimes, but in particular for your long silence, too long to be credible now!
Gaetano , Torino, Italy
I guess the comments about 'commies being even worse' are here because of the link from Fox News. Even if that's true, so what???
I'm even more amazed at the person putting this down to the ramblings of a lonely man. You can look up the things that they did at Unit 731 etc. its hard to stomach but its fact.
This article doesn't go into the detail of others perhaps, so ignorance is perhaps an excuse for the apologetic tone some of the comments above, but anyone who spends even a minute reading this should understand that the 'experiments' mentioned are among the lowest all time acts of the human race and should be decried as such
Harry, London,
Communists wouldn't ever admit to these atrocities as they think there is nothing wrong with them. Communism is their god, and communism doesn't say those atrocities are wrong. So for them there is nothing to admit to.
It is kept private because communists, especially China's communists understand they could be harmed by negative publicity from the rest of the world which is not communist. This might hurt the pocket books of the communist regime and since they are all about money and capitalism, they will stay quiet. But don't think that they don't commit those atrocities ALL the time, and all over the country, and that no one knows. The townspeople know, but they cannot do anything, or they might suffer the same plight.
Look up Organ Harvesting in China. They are taking organs from the living AND they publicise on the web that you can go to China and get an organ transplant and find a matching donor within weeks.
Sam, Chicago,, USA/ IL
Many old people will concoct all kinds of wild tales about what they did, to have people listen to them. The elderly without families are lonely people, so confessing to heinous crimes gives them an instant audience. They become objects of pity to others, who shower attention upon them. This seems to happen in just about every society. In America, many senior citizens have began to "confess" crimes against blacks and indians. In the UK, old men begin to talk about all the atrocities they committed against the Irish or German civilians. This Japanese man is likely looking for international attention as well. Must be sad to be so lonely.
However, it is interesting to see that there are no such confessions from Chinese, Soviet or other communist geezers.
Petras, Montreal, Canada
Some things are too diabolical for any living, breathing, feeling, Human Being to contemplate. This is one of them.
Other comments from people are saying that they are aware there are more diabolical things going on in the world, or have gone on in the world, as if this somehow gives 'perspective' upon things. So my question is, is this the kind of world you want to live in, where things like this happen? Is this the kind of world you want to bring your children up in, to allow them to inherit? If not, how can it be remedied? Not by more of the same,obviously, but by being something better, and this my friends is in the hands of all of us, each one individually. If we want a better future then all of us alive today must help create it.
Thelma Bishop, London,
Zak, Atlanta. Have fun starving to death if you're going to refuse to eat food of a certain country because of terrible things it's people did in the past (or indeed present)! No country is blameless with regards historic atrocities.
Eleanor, London, England
When humans cross the line and commit these horrendous crimes, the only decent thing is suicide.
Inga, London,
You cannot help but think of the three hundred thousands Chinese killed during Nanjing massacre,and many more killed by chemical warfare by Japanese armies during Japanese invasion of China in Second World War.
Today Japanese government is still not admitting these atrocities they created, in fact they are trying to rewrite their history books to re-educate their young children.
Joseph Lee, Toronto, Canada
Well said Neil.
Oonagh Toner, Hong Kong,
Japan isn't the only or the first country to practice such atrocities. In the early 1900s up to 1945 many states like Indiana or California did eugenic sterilization: a believe that those society deemed unfit and were mentally institutionalized or incarcerated were not to reproduce. It was done to prevent genetic defects social or physical from being carried to the next generation.
I suggest we look at our past before we rush to anothers.
Missy, Anaheim,CA,
Well Zak, you better stay away from the American food too if you had a clue about what we did in Vietnam or any war for that matter. Humans are all barbarians when in uncomprimising situations. We all come from the wild and we all have the ability to return.
Chris, Philadelphia, PA
I think people's astonishment at this cruelty is hypocritical possibly. Only a short time ago Times reported the breast buds removal surgical mining of the body of an incapacitated person. Steely objectivity & ridiculous attention to both sides of the debate prevailed over a clear case of abuse of human rights, gross disrespect for the individual in the medical systems clutches & human dignity ignored.
Explore japanese historical cruelty endlessly if you wish but western medicine hospital systems & individuals are normalizing barbaric plunder of live bodies with little scrutiny. Chaos in the system is not entirely to blame as the rationalizations & well worked out defence of the cruel practises proves.
The conclusion is that our regimes are sinister, diabolical & neo-fascistic to allow the medical science barbarism.
Hopefully everyone who is astonished by Japanese medical science cruelty is equally enervated to decry the cruelty of our systems.
pialita, london, uk
I wonder when will be our time to go in front of the world and ask for forginess for what is currently happening in Irak and Afghanistan...
A R, Seattle, WA, USA
I shall never eat Sushi or Japanese food again.
Barbarians!
Zak, Atlanta, GA
History continues to repeat itself; poor deluded poeple following the orders of their God, throught pressure of older wicked men seeking to gain power.
Mr Kamikize himself flew bravely into the dying sunset to perform his patriotic destiny after the defeat of Japan, only to be found decades later with a new life and a young family.
How many old religious men seek the comfort of 70 virgins in the afterlife? None, they would much rather send the young as sacrifice to their beliefs so they can enjoy the fruits of power on this earth.
Makino was a victim of a laterday religious fanaticism, which still prevails throughout our so called modern civilisation. There are many more "victims" waiting to prove that their Gods are stronger than yours
Mike Wardell, Wolverhampton, UK
...who is to say what any one of us would do in the same circumstances?...
I say: have some conviction. if it seems barbaric then it is barbaric. this is regardless if the orders come from man or a god.
bob, city,
I think that it is ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS what he did and do not condone his actions for one minute. However, who is to say what anyone of us would do in the same circumstances. We did not live those times and survival is a very strong instinct. He was human, he wanted to live. What would have happened to him if he had refused the orders?
Japan needs to confront its past and apologise for
the atrocities during the war.
From his actions, the man is trying to find forgiveness and peace. Even though he goes to 88 temples and tries to make reparation in his way, he still has had to live with his actions which in itself must be a living hell and will be till the day he dies.
Elaine, Canberra, Australia
For one i know there is a God and he is a God of mercy. Im doing mission trips to the philippines and i see the need over there. I understand this mans suffering and the torment that is racing through his mind. It was horrible yes. but If he has asked God for forgiveness then God has forgiven him. If God has forgiven him then so must I. We are supposed to love our enemys and hate there sin. This guy has killed innocent people im sure in some way God has punished him. Just not the way "we" would liek to see it. I hope this man changes lives in the Phillipines, and i wish him luck. Cause you think the Filipinos will want help from him when they find out who he is? NO!!!!!! It takes alot for someone like that to go back to the place where he has commited so many murders. We should be praying for him. that God would get ahold of him, help him, and lead him in what to do and what not to do.
Cat, Branson, MO USA
What he did was totally evil. But he did not do it to anyone living now. None of the people posting here are directly affected by his actions, and it is not for us to forgive. The law can apply a legal 'forgiveness' I suppose, but for individuals, only those that suffered can choose to forgive or not.
I suppose it shows that no matter how evil; an act a person commits, most are capable of rehabilitating in some way and becoming good, contributing members of society. It is better for all of us to remember that than prefer a perpetual cycle of crime and retribution.
Neil Murphy, cromer,
I find it funny that people who belong to the countries that firebombed countless Japanese cities and dropped not one, but two atomic bombs on a nation of starving, desperate people can afford to judge the actions of others in that time. This is an atrocity, but so were many of the things the allies did as well.
Sean McGarity, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Man is fallen creature. Sins are massive. Forgiveness is tremendously hard, but necessary for both parties. To Robert, if God didn't care we would have exterminated ourselves. That's why Jesus came, died, and was raised- for our benefit. This Japanese gentleman needs forgiveness and Jackie has it right.
Austin, Fort Worth, United States/ Texas
At issue is not whether this one man should be forgiven. Japan as a country, simply must admit to these atrocities and start the healing process. There are still a lot of hurt and hatred out there. Japan can't possibly expect to have normal relationships with these countries until this issue is brought out and addressed. The Germans came clean and took resposibility for their deeds. Japan needs to do the same.
Norm, Las Vegas, Nevada
I agree with Jim Schol, chugiak, Alaska. well and succinctly put.
john , london,
Unfortunately this murderer did not have an attack of conscience before he preformed his atrocities on teenage girls. I personally hope he rots in hell for all eternity alongside all the other war criminals. If he does not there is NO justice. It's not for us to forgive or not forgive - but he does not deserve it. It doesnt matter how many temples he visits.
Stephen Romano, Brooklyn, NY
i think it is very hard to forgive but it takes great courage to do so. i am a filipino and i believe that he did what he had to do... he tried to make ammends and he repented for what he did. god forgives those who ask for forgiveness so why cant we!?
we cant keep on planting seeds of hatred. i think what's important is now. what he did now. he's been helping people in the south as penance for what he did... i think he may have killed 10, but he might have saved 100..... it makes a difference.
jackie, manila, philippines
There may be a God, it's just He's not the One you've been talked about.
Read the Bible and tell me what kind of God calls himself "jealous" and kills hundred thousands of the people he's supposed to save ?
Read the Ancient testament, read the Coran, if a God exists it's certainly not a God of mercy, and He should have no real problems with His creation messing around...
Robert, Paris, France
I never once heard him mention he was seeking forgiveness. It is only his guilty concious begging for release. However, I do agree that if he is asking for forgiveness it should be given and only God would know his heart.
He clearly mentions in the article he slipped and told of the atrocities he committed on POW's. I'm sure it felt good to get it out in the open. Evil will always prevail in this world and good will always overcome in the end. Let's just hope the young Japanese who are dissecting live dolphins develop a concious themselves before they turn their interest into higher notions.
I'm not throwing stones, none of us are blameless in the world. To be forgiven you must seek it first.
Marie, Cincinnati, , USA
At the time that this happened, this man must have been very young (I can't remember from the article.) and I think we all know how impressionable and pliant the very young are. Especially those brought up to obey superiors and especially those taught to obey superiors until death, i.e. Japanese Military. It's not his fault that he did those things and I don't think it's right to condemn him or equate him to a President. Imagine if you were a young kid and were trained to follow orders 'till death. Now imagine if you had to make the choice between your life or the life of another. Could you really make that choice? Even with all you have to live for? It's simple logic.
Mike Monaghan, Beijing, China
Ofcourse we would b.b its called Darwinism...But alteast this guy actually faced his demons and remorced. What about all the nazi scientists, they did these experiments on live human P.O.W namely jews, but did they repent? doubt it. And they claim it all in the name of science dustgusting.
Pun, SA/Australia,
Manny, I have no idea where you get your information but I certainliy hope you have some evidence to support such a horrendous claim.
I think the real crime here is that fact that endless attention is spent on the Holocaust while the Japanese government is allowed to shirk its moral and national responsibility to face its past simply because it has a big wallet. A Jewish or Polish life is NOT more important than a Filipino, Chinese, or Korean one and it is high time that this dark era of Japanese history is brought fully into the light and that the world powers demand that address its smoldering foundations of fanatic nationalism, and make amends to the nations that it so horrifically mis-treated.
Andrew, San Diego, CA, USA
Very easy of us all to condemn this man. Circumstances, etc were very different then. And the Japanese culture also. And I write as one who's uncle was captured in Singapore, tortured in Japan and worked on the notorious Burma railway and survived. I don't condone any of this but just pass the comment.
Steve, Horsham, UK/West Sussex
You can do what this man did, or you can be a President and listen to some Harvard professor or other that such and such country is a threat and drop bombs on it, as in Vietnam and Iraq.
The effect is the same - a callous disregard for peoples of other nations.
We in Britain are no better.
K Urban, London,
God and dolphins? Are you reading the same article I am? If this guy is truely remorselful then why won't he name the commander that gave the order? He's old and only now fearing he'll receive the judgement he's rightfully earned. Since he went to Buddhist temples I'll go out on a limb and guess he's one also. Now near the end of his life he's fearing the payment for what he did. A quick search for info on his religion said this;
"After Death
There is no transmigration of individual souls, but through the law of karma, one's wholesome or unwholesome intentions become imprinted in the mind. Negative mental states persist through continual rebirth until one's intentions become wholesome. Once fully enlightened, one is liberated from rebirths, reaching a state of absolute selflessness resulting in ultimate bliss called Nirvana--the "Deathless State." One becomes Buddha (or one with Buddha). Some Buddhists, especially modern Western, don't emphasize or believe in literal rebirth. "
Sounds to me he's afraid he's going to have to pay the pipper for for the horrendous things he did to other human beings- AND RIGHTFULLY SO. Let God judge his soul and the Philipino people judge him.
Jim Schol, chugiak, Alaska
I find this article disturbing on so many levels.
We are all defined by the choices we make, and the Japanese government is clearly defining itself by its refusal to acknowledge wartime atrocities in countries such as China and Korea -- and now the Philippines.
It looks like we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past...
David, Hong Kong,
Hey Edward,
If there is no God, you certainly have no cause to whine about what Mr. Makino did—or what anyone else does for that matter. Morality is entirely relativized, a matter of mere opinion. Who cares what you think? Who cares what the vivisectionists do? Who cares what the Hitlers or Stalins of this world do? You have nothing to stand on. Unless of course, you expect all of us to simply buy into you idiosyncratic beliefs. In order to posit morality you have to have absolutes. Your moral indignation is simply irrational. Unless, of course God does exist.
Tim, Albi, France
This is nothing to do with God. Every human being has the capacity for terrible evil or great good, it all depends on the circumstances. That includes everybody reading this, religious or not.
It just shows we have to make sure those circumstances never arise again - although Iraq shows we are not learning the lessons.
Nick Yates, Sydney, Australia
Now they do it on Dolphins!
Its a disgrace that young Japanese no very little about their recent history, its the only way of preventing a repeat.....except for todays dolphins!
Colin, Bourenmouth, UK
How can anyone read a story like this and believe there is a god?
Edward, HK,
How can anyone read a story like this and believe there isn't a God. A God who gives us free will. A God who would give us a conscience. A God who would call a sinner to repent... to ask forgiveness.
And as for the human race ever learning... since when did two wrongs make a right. If a man has done wrong and asks forgiveness... if he has been trying to make up for it for his whole life and you condemn him... then that just goes to show that if you are no better.
David, andover, MN
honestly i don't think that we should sentence him, i mean i agree with a lot of people what he did was very wrong but to be forced to do it or death i know alot of us would say that we would rather go to death then kill but tell your self the truth i think you would have rather kill than be killed
b.b, hawaii, hawaii
The people who should have been sentenced and convicted were the American military and medical officials who granted the Japanese medics immunity from prosecution in exchange for the medical data obtained from such intentional vivisections, infections, and amputations.
Manny Klystron, Mountain View, CA
I'm rather worried that so many people here are trotting out the Nuremberg "I was only following orders" defense. Maybe the guy is genuinely remorseful, but the Phillipine government should at least look into trying him for war crimes. Obeying a clearly immoral order to cut up living people is not a defense.
Steve, San Jose, USA
It's horrible, but I think what really defines him is that he is apologetic about it. He shows signs of sympathy and sadness for what he had done. Rather then sentence him, we have to realize that it was war and that while he should be held accountable, we must also realize that he is forced to live with the guilt. Had he not been apologetic, it would have been more of a crime since he felt no remorse and could be a real or larger threat.
James, Toronto, Ontario
Hey, as long as he was following orders, it's OK, right?
The author is far too deferential to a living monster, who should still be tried and punished.
Al Guyto, Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
I am Filipino. My family was personally tortured by the Japanese during WWII. I forgive this man because he shows true remorse. To truly learn from this terrible experience we should actually try to see this poor soul's point of view. It seems to me he has been trying to make up for crimes during his life time. Let us not commend this man, but show the compassion he didn't show didn't those dark years.
Alan, NY, NY, USA, NY
Oh cry me a river, Faizaan. Tell it to the victim's families! You can not prevent something from happening again unless you learned of the past.
Norm, Las Vegas, Nevada
I think The Emperor of Japan should take the initiative. After all, he is the grandson of Hirohito, and ask the man personally to name the commanding officer who instructed him to do these things.
The War happened a long time ago, but there has to be discourse and discussion about what happened then, and still goes on today.
It is only by education, and facing up to their actions can lessons be learnt, and society as a whole learn from this, and, sad to say move on.
He seems to have lived in his own hell for the last 60 years, but plenty of soldiers who commit atrocities similar to these in Africa right now are going free.
We need education, and information about crimes like these, not to sensationalise and titillate, but to learn as a race, and grow as a species.
The Japanese arent the only race to have committed atrocities like these: Germany, Russia, China, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Numerous African states, and Indonesia have all amputated selectively for crimes and punishment.
Philip in Dulwich, London, London, UK
Japanese have tortured and killed 1000's of innocent humans. Americans have murdered 100,000 of innocent Japanese within a minute. Its a war, people follow orders and innocent die. We should learn from this and try to prevent future equivalent, not enforce revenge.
Nikita, Chicago, IL
Slowly execute this insane murderer! Do to him what he did to other human beings.
J. Howard, Milwaukee, USA/Wis
I think his actions were atrocious and a terrible thing to do but, in all honesty, you can't blame him entirely. Responsibilty for his actions lie as much with the government of the time as they do with him.
Daniel, Walla Walla, WA
All the more reason to be an atheist. More atrocities have been committed in the name of religion, than any other cause on the face of this Earth. And if the sum total of ALL the people that have ever been murdered in the name of religion, were ever added up, I'm sure it would be in the hundreds of millions.
To quote the article:
"At that time, if a commander gave you an order it was understood that it was the order of the Emperor, AND THE EMPEROR WAS A GOD."
David Potter, Bossier City, Louisiana
I feel that it is very easy for us to say that he should be tried and sentenced, however, one has to go into his shoes. We have to ask ourselves what we would have done in his sitiuation. After reading the article, it has become clear to me that he feels true remorse and regret for his actions. For him living with the experience all his life is enough punishment in my view. We should stop re-kindling fires of the past and look to prevent such atrocities happening in the future. I know this is said time and time again, however, we don't seem to learn. To name just on example, the state of Palestinian people is evidence of history repeating itself. The state of Isreal has subjected the Palestinians to countless human rights violations. It is allowed to act with total impunity, which, I am sorry to say, is given by the USA and Britian. You may think I am straying from the point of response to the article, but I feel this is a very valid point that we need to address.
Faizaan Ullah Kha, Keele, Staffordshire, England
The point of what Peter was saying about how terrible religion is cannot be confused between religion and what the word of God says, they are two different concepts.
If all people followed the guidance of the holy scriptures we would not have hundreds of religions, as the Bible only recognizes only one faith,... Ephesians 4: 4-6,...and if we were to follow the true teachings of Christ and his Apostles we would be no part of the world as Christ was no part. John 17"16, John 18: 36.
Within the strength of numbers must people with power of reasoning make any politician or dictator accountable before they takes action to create such atrocities against humanity.
Ronald Fleming, Alberta Beach Ab., Canada
Wow. Let me guess how many of you calling for the conviction of an 83 year old man for crimes he may have been forced to commit almost 60 years ago consider yourself "christians". And why is it that all of you, save for S. Main, are all too quick to throw the first stone.
Was this horrible and wrong? Of course. But this man had two choices; say "no" and die or say "yessir" and live a life that no sane person would be able to go through without being tortured internally about the blood on your hands for the rest of your life. And that is not entirely "getting away with it" by any stretch.
I'm sure there were times in his life where he deeply wished he had taken option "A"
T. Williams, NY,
He should be tried and sentenced. No matter his age or his remorse. End of story.
Tifannt, Dublin, Eire
These were ugly acts of a Godless people. People have worshipped beasts far worst than that Emperor of Japan and called them gods.
Norm, Las Vegas, Nevada
From all the atrocities I have ever read about, those committed by Imperial Japan were clearly the worse ever recorded. Why does the Jewish holocaust get so much attention? Not to suggest that the Jewish holocaust wasn't horrific, but I think Jews are just very good at commemorating their own past, as compared with others. As for Imperial Japan, the U.S. granted them uniform immunity in exchange for documentation of what they had learned from these atrocities. The U.S. cannot legal prosecute them, but Europe could. I guess Europe only cares about what happened to Europe. Even then, mainly only atrocities against Jews.
Matthew C. Tedder, Pullman, WA
Mike @ Roanoke: yes, they do.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6156656.stm
Jim, Denver, CO
Wars are rarely if ever fought by the people who start them. It's too easy to sit back with the luxury of afterthought, in our cozy nests and condemn the actions taken by the enemy during wartime. Don't forget, the winning side gets to define war crimes. Does anyone really think that General Curtis LeMay wouldn't have been prosecuted and executed as a war criminal for ordering and carrying out the fire bombing raids on Japan during WWII, had Japan won the war. Thousands of Japanese civilians were killed during those raids and they died a horrible death by burning. I doubt that any of them had the comfort of anesthesia either. War is just really, really, ugly. Why does anyone expect it to bring out the best in man? The worst is what we will almost always get. War is so dehumanizing to the participants, that it is a given that these sort of atrocities will occur.
D.Flowers, Houston,
I think before we judge this man, we need to consider the time period (1940's era), the situation (World War II) and also the culture (Japanese army). YES, what he did was wrong...it's disgusting and inhumane. But, it is like he said. When a commanding officer gave you an order, you did as he said. War is hell. The purpose was for a better understanding of the human body. THIS DOES NOT MAKE WHAT HE DID OKAY!!!! But we DO need to keep in mind the circumstances. Why punish this old man now? Should we put him on death row? I believe he will receive his just punishments when he dies.
Krystina, Mecosta, Michigan
Good god. It scares me that you can actually believe that, Mike, when your own judicial system has just sentenced US soldiers for exactly that. The soldiers even gave accounts of what they'd done - yet you'd rather close your eyes and ears and believe them all to be great, upstanding citizens. Sure, most are, but what about the recent rape and murder cases, what about Abu Graib? Do we just ignores them and continue to believe that these things are only done by other people?
Steve, Street, UK
We should not allow ourselves to prosecute the just soldier for his action but more importantly, the "leaders" that have put them in such a place. War itself should be avoided at all costs by a society. Any society should not allow it's government to use it as a tool for political or economic gain by it's rich and powerful.
Having said that, I feel sorry for this person and for all those that were affected by this and other wars.
OR I can say that this is what war is and we should only blame ourselves for allowing it to happen again.... those chickens will come home to roost soon enough.
b-caapi, san diego, ca usa
I am Filipino. My father told me of the torture the Japanese did to my country and my family. It was war and terrible things happened. I don't know if this man should be tried as a war criminal, but I forgive him. I hope one day he will forgive himself.
Let us learn from the mistakes of all the wars and not allow war to happen again. Alias that is my dream and only a dream.
Alan, NY, USA/NY
I found it intersting how the emperor, for the Japanese, was
considered a living "god". This is yet another stark,
disturbing example of how terrible religion can be. Not
only is it silly to beleive that there is an old white guy with
a big beard floating up in the air, and all that goes with
that bronze age creation myth, but it inevitably leads to
some of the most horrible, bloody, insane crimes that
humans have ever perpatrated against each other,
as it outlined in this man's testimony, "it was the order of the Emperor, and the Emperor was a god". It doesn't
matter which random god it is, I recommend reason
instead...
Peter Dilworth, Brighton, USA
I'm a filipino, and it's refreshing to see SOMEONE admit to the atrocities they've committed in the name of whatever god they saw fit to worship, and feel remorse for it! I've read enough about the Rape of Nanking, the Manila Massacre, et al to know that only a handful of people have ever admitted to doing what they did. Of those that did, maybe one or two of them (from what I've read so far) have ever felt remorse for what they did.
mike, san jose, usa
Mike, from Roanoke, wow, all I can say is you seem to be living under some pretty strong Amercian propoganda yourself, if you believe what you say.
Lincoln, Waterloo,
“I didn’t want to do it, but it was an order, you see."
Gee, where have we heard that before?
Lugo, Reston, VA
For those that wish to prosecute him: war crime charges are reserved for those that had some control over the fate of people, not those that had the grisly task of following those orders.
Julien Mc, Ottawa, Canada
Amazing... I'm simultaneously fascinated and repulsed. I think he's brave for speaking up and not letting this secret horror die with him. It's helpful, if not disturbing, what humans are capable of in times of "war." We just never learn.
Oh and how anyone, such as George in the comments here can read stories like this and even utter the word god as any sort of benevolent deity baffles me.
Russ, San Francisco, USA
styleguru needs to visit Iraq to see that his or her statements are patently false. Are you one that believes that al qaeda and that ilk are INNOCENTS? Put aside your America hate for just a moment and consider your fate without British, American and other coalition troops fighting the bad guys there versus your back yard.
Tom, Hamilton, NJ, USA
Five thousand years of technological, social, and political advancement and history has done nothing to improve the human race. All we have accomplished in that time is to invent newer and more efficient (I just can't seem to use the word "better" here) ways of killing each other. Humans are unchanged in any way since the time of the Pharoahs.
Gilbert Moore, Minneapolis, MN,
Self confessed war criminal should be tried, and convicted and sentenced for his dispicable acts. The defense that I had to do it or die was the same arguement put foward by some Nazi's as well. War crimes are just that war crimes, regardless of how you "repent". He should pay for them as the Nazi's did.
Bill James, Dallas, Texas
Sorry S Main
No forgiveness- the man should be punished.
And styleguru, there will always be the evil soldiers in war who will take advantage of his situation, we saw it in vietnam and we see it today, not all Americans commit crimes in the army, don't generalise!
Peter, London, UK
Is this any different than the war crimes done to civilians by the Al Queda? These radical Muslims not only cut off the heads, but do it with a knife so that it takes several minutes of suffering for their victim to die and then broadcast it around the world for all to see how brave they are. Then they blow the limbs off women and children. How brave are these cowards?
It must be difficult for God not to wipe the human race of the face of the earth after watching such a cowardly acts shown around the world.
George, harrisburg,
As a combat veteran I'd like to respond to styleguru: On the extremely rare occassion when an American serviceman in Iraq commits a crime (be it a traditional criminal act or what might be a war crime) he is arrested and court-martialed. If convicted, he is sent to a military prison for a very long time. Of the over 600,000 US ground troops who have fought in Iraq, some two dozen have fallen into this category. The United States is one of the very few countries in the world that holds is military members to a higher standard than its citizens, and rightly so.
Bill McNutty, Fayetteville, NC
All I can say is, thank God for the UK and America. Neither is perfect but both want freedom for all mankind. The actions of individuals DO NOT represent their society - you (Britains) are not all jack-the-ripper, and we Americans are not all wild cowboys with sixguns blazing. We all make mistakes, and the tools of politics are rough hewn and impossible to master, so we humans plod along doing the best we can.
American Patriot, Wetumpka, Alabama
Americans do not "rape, murder and burn" teenage girls in Iraq. These are the finest young men and women civilized society can produce...and 99.9% of them conduct themselves professionally and with honor in the defense of our country. The rest is propaganda.
Mike, Roanoke, VA
All war criminals, no matter what their age or alleged repentance shiould be prosecuted.
Oliver , Poole, Dorset
It doesn't lessen the horror of what he did, but I think I can feel forgiveness to him because he has clearly very genuinely repented and tried to do do good since then.
And I thank God that at least the victims in this case were anaesthetised, which is more than some poor souls are afforded in atrocities committed even today.
S. Main, Turriff,
Maiming and killing, like sexual deviation, gets into the mind. The more it is done the more it seems normal. The human is rare who ever comes back from the brink to live a normal life. As suicide terrorists throw their lives away around the world, it is a blessing that I don't walk in their shoes.
Jeanie, Philadelphia, USA
In Europe, war criminals are still pursued and prosecuted, despite their age or other mitigating factors. If this individual has admitted the actions in the story, why has he not been tried as a result of them? Are vivisectionists of people allowed to be free if they show the requisite level of guilt?
Clive O'Mahoney, Watford, UK
Human-animal hybrid cells are completely irrelevent to this story. Extracting 1 or 2 cells from a ball of undifferentiated cells is in no way cruel or inhumane (but would have many medical uses), and to compare this to vivisection of humans both undermines the atrocities that went on in this case and misleads readers about what stem cell research actually involves.
Charlotte, London, England
And now Americans rape, murder and burn teenage girls in Iraq - we have always been a cruel species. Barbarism is a demon that has possessed every race at one time or another.
styleguru, London,
War is Hell
God is Dead
steve, london,
WAR is WAR , he did what he had to do, he would have been killed by his commanders, the Japanese were
brutal to everyone they encountered. Read about how
they treated Chinese.
si, staten island, ny
Horrific. This old man must have suffered terribly over the years, with the conscience of one that knows what he did was evil. Remorse, however it comes, cannot be discounted. What strikes me though, is that this, in those conditions, is considered barbaric, by me especially for it now plays a part in the horror of my belonging to the human race. But we do the same and worse to nonhuman animals everyday, in this country.
What kind of a species are we? Where does our conscience begin and end? War is wrong, at any time, but the types of cruelty that we visit upon other humans and nonhumans must surely be considered wrong to, if we are to ever lay claim to that elusive title of a civlised society. Our moral schizophrenia lays bare our own lack of morality, and our hypocrisy as we shout for heads to roll, and yet meekly support the same barbarity we are decrying.
What kind of species are we? A cruel one.
Jennifer Hynes, Barry, Cymru
British scientists want to not only create clones and kill them to produce embryonic stem cells. Now they want to create human-animal hybrids for the same purpose. This is not science in any good sense. It is Frankenstein. It is chimera in both senses: illusion and human-animal monsters.
Richard L.A. Schaefer, Dubuque, USA/Iowa
I am agnostic about god - and I am not convinced that Mr Makino should not be the subject of some legal process.
Contrition does not cancel out a crime.
The lesson is not religious. We need to guard in all societies against an obedience culture - which Mr Makino clearly identifies as the root cause of his actions.
Why are WE so passively accepting yet more billions being spent on nuclear weapons when our hospitals are decaying? DISOBEY!
Chris Hale, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Two world wars, religious wars and all the other wars that have and are being fought today are as a result of our "LEADERS" myopic views on issues. We are supposed to learn from history but we never do. Orders or not, there is no justification for the artrocities that happened in the past or is happening now in any war.
When will we ever understand that in war there are no winners and losers. In war everyone is a loser.
We must learn to appreciate the other person(people) for who they are and not what we want them to be. Only then can we make any progress in making the world a better place to live. NOT BY WAR.
Tobor, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
I cannot judge him. That is for God. But he appears to have repented of his doings and tried to right a little of what he did. At this late time and considering his age, I don't believe anything worthwhile would be gained by executing him now. But the truth should get out and help educate people how war is hell and people do horrible things often under such pressure situations. We need to pray for him that he may be forgiven by our Lord and Savior. We need to pray for all of us that we may not do such things...for we are all capable of such things. Only in God can there be a perfect world. That is where I put may hope and my hope for him.
Tom, Plummer, ID
America experimented on its own soldiers - A-bomb tests, psych drugs, syphilis, etc. We are all guilty in some way. The solution is for humanity to gain understanding, knowledge and openness. Whether it be Christ, Gandhi or MLK we have a lot of great examples to learn from. But one thing I do know... None of those great people taught revenge.
Ken, Bridgetown, Barbados
He was a soldier serving under a tyrany, he had to obey or die himself. His story now conveys meaning of which no-one would know unles he spoke out.At least we can learn from this.
Some soldiers in Iraq blindly obey orders because they have to - I wonder how many of them will feel romorse and guilt in future years
To Mike,Colorado - Read your post again and confer your rationalisations to your forces who have invaded a country and killed 10s of thousands of innocent people on flawed intelligence.
I hope we can learn from this as well.
Nigel, York, UK
I have to I do forgive him, but yet Japan has not said any thing about the the Bridges they built in Tiwan. They will not admit what they did there. Yet they admit about Bhatan. I am waiting for that day. Pray for that day!
Caryl Denise Ferguson, Durham, North Carolina
Paul,
So USA is the biggest force for good in the world? Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraquis that have died since your country invaded Iraq on a pretext. G W Bush said 'we have nothing against the Iraqui people', can you imagine the slaughter if he had something against them?
Wake up and smell the coffee and try to look at things from another point of view
Ljiljana Korac, Dubai, UAE
"I agree that this is abhorent, however attrocities continue to this day. Our american fiends should do well not to forget guantanamo bay and stop being so self righteous".
I think there is a big difference between live vivisection of humans and making prisoners wear womans underwear on their heads, listen to loud rock music and wrapping them in the Israeli flag.
Brian, Morris County, NJ
At this time in history (WWII), the Japanese were fanatical: much like we see today in the Islamic population. The world must unite to defeat Islam as the allies defeated the Japanese in WWII.
RF, Virginia, USA
"I know only 2 things. I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great savior" Blessings!-
Diane, Camarillo, CA, USA
>>They actually threw babies in the air and let the babies fall on their swords. <<
The Crusaders did much the same, to hundreds of thousands of Muslims in the name of Christ. They were trying to remove people from the lands in which the Muslims had always lived.
Native Americans killed many a baby in raids on white settlements, trying to run the invaders out of the Indian's land.
Two similar atrocities, for opposites purposes.
Makes animals seem the civilized ones, doesn't it?!
Humans never learn.
Anita, Indianapolis, Indiana
Paul, Minneapolis - History is a little more complex than that pal. The US may have been a "good guy" in 1945, but was it really necessary to use atomic bombs against the civilian population of Japan? Using them against military / industrial targets would also have demonstrated their power to the Japanese (and Russians) and brought about the end of the Pacific war in much the same timeframe.
And now, 2007, the US is the "good guy"? How many non-Americans would agree? How many Iraqis would agree? If the US had intervened to end atrocities and war to save millions of lives in Rwanda, Congo, Sudan, East Timor, etc etc, rather than choosing to intervene (and often so destructively) only to serve its own self-interest, then perhaps the world would see you as "good guys". But no, we see you as the raw, self-serving, aggressive, violent pseudo-moralisers that you truly are, or at least that your elected governments have made you seem.
At least Mr Makino admitted his crimes.
Joe, Tokyo, Japan
"The Japan of today is a different nation,"
Really? How can you tell?
Was it when one of their ministers said that america couldn't compete with Japan because we have to hire blacks? Or was he just misquoted by the hundreds of newspapers that carried the story?
It's nice though, that Stuart in Edingburgh is comparing vivisections in Japan to the conditions in Guantanamo.
Obviously there are many parallels there, he's just too generous to mention them.
Al Duce, Kalamazoo, Michigan
I pray he finds forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He will only find the peace he seeks when he calls on Jesus for forgiveness. I pray he finds peace through our Lord Jesus Christ before he leaves this life. I know a man who had experimental surgery done on him during the war. It is documented in the book Twice Forgotten. It breaks my heart for all involved. May they all turn to Jesus.
A Believer, Houston, TX, USA
I've read coments of Mr. Gene Smith of Edgefield, USA/SC.
Just for your info, Americans soldires also massacred Filipinos during the war and got the BIG CHURCH BELL back to U.S. because their U.S. commander was killed during an encounter.
If you are now 73, you may recall that when Spaniards occupied Philippines, Americans defeated Spaniards with the help of Filipino soldires(WW1). During WWII, Gen McArthur landed in Leyte to help Filipinos defeat Japanese.
During this WWII American-Japanese war in Philippines that this American soldiers's massacre of Filipinos happened.
During war, anything can happen. You need to shoot or be shot. Defend yourself during war. Commiting atrocities is a different story which is sometimes uncontrollable during war.
Franco Joaquin, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
When will Japan make amends? To those who say the allies were wrong to bomb cities; How else do you stop Imperial Japan & Germany, With sweet cookies?
I.M. Knot Fooled, New York, New York, USA !
I don't know why I read this. I just feel sick at what some people can.
Gareth, Reading, UK
Fortunately, Mr. Makino was born with the conscience that a military order can force into a temporary freeze, but that time can bring to life again sooner or later. Unfortunately, however, it does not appear the Japanese Government was born with any such conscience that time can unfreeze, in character for an offshoot from the Tojo cabinet which was congenitally absent conscience. Its P.M.'s are as fervent worshippers at the Yasukuni Shrine as ever, and its M.P.'s are never less vehement in denying their forced prostitution for the military during the war, the Nanjing Holocaust, and what they did in Manchuria and Southeast Asia through the hands of compulsorily frozen conscience.
Kwan-Shik Kim, Seoul, South Korea
And the world wonders why the US decided to drop Nuclear Bombs on Japan to end the war. The savage cruelty that the Japanese perpetrated on their war prisoners is only equaled by that of the Nazi's on the Jews and other undesireables. I for one am glad that Truman took the course he did, undoubtedly he and his staff knew what the Americans and Allies faced in the SUB HUMAN Japanese Army and War Machine and knew that TOTAL ANNHILATION or the threat of it was probably the only thing they would understand. The next time I hear another person say something bad about the USA and its treatment of war prisoners I simply say look at the NAZI's and the Japanese and then try to pass judgement. I dont think the US has ever even come within any distance of these acts. Sure we have had rogue members of the Army do bad things but the prisoners are still ALIVE despite these acts which in fact do not go unpunished. When have the Germans and Japanese made any reparations for these acts ?? I hope this doctor lives with guilt for the rest of his natural life !!! He SHOULD
John , San Jose, California, USA
Bonnie from Texas. What forgiveness can you give, unless you are a vicitm? Even then, what right do you have to forgive what was done to other victims? Reminds me of Lord Longford wanitng to forgive Myra Hindley who never asked for forgiveness or sought to alleviate the suffering of the parents of the children whose bodies were never found. This man appears to have suffered pangs of remorse, and, for my part, I feel pity for him as a suffering fellow human but still think that only those he wronged who have any power to forgive him for what they personally suffered: if the physical victims are dead, their relatives can forgive their bereavement ie, the effect on them of the murder of a relative but not the actual murder.
ABS, Gibraltar,
I commend him for coming forward with his story and for his years of trying to make amends for his actions. I am also familiar with the requirement of obeying the orders of your superiors without question. I would supect that through history every country has committed atrocities or all kinds. While these are not to be condoned, we must learn from them. The sins of the father are not necessarily the sins of children. I hope those involved in this situation find peace in their hearts and for others of the world.
Ron, Lomita, California, USA
As a Filipino, and a Great-grand son to WW2 Vet ( from Bataan Death March) and Manila War Tribunal Head, I am saddened, that younger generations have long forgetten the sacrifice and suffering of Asians duing World War 2, though Japan reparations were made, the Philippines lost almost 2 generations in that War, which was not of our choosing. The American politicians choose to liberate Europe first, over Asia, and had blatantly manuevered to exploit the War Efforts to boost their (USA) economy at the expense of Philippine lives. I lost relatives to both Japanese, and American atrocities during the War, as well as, liberation. Is there Justice ? ..........only excuses......
Jack , Manila, Republic of the Philippines
War is cruel. This is a fact documented throughout time. It's the opinion of those who have never lead a unit into battle or even run a company who choose to condemn others who have served and followed. While peace would be welcome wars are reality. I wouldn't want to serve in a unit of men/women where each were left to their own opinion whether they will follow an order or not. While this story is tragic it's one in a million throughout history. It's no different today. The US is condemned for starting the war in Iraq. But little condemnation for the muslims who will sacrifice the life of a muslim child to make a point or strap a bomb around their waste and walk into a market full of innocents all in the name of a religion. Reality.
Pete, Denver, USA/Colorado
what i have jus read would be fitting of a very disturbing horror film and the only apparent hint of remorse is that he knew wot he did was wrong! and i am surprised that there is no mention of a war crimes tribunal or any retribution. this is as heinous as the holocaust or the genocides in rawanda and the former yugoslavia!!
Andrew Williamson, East Kilbride, Scotland
War is a terrible thing, and he is guilty of war crimes but I think his punishment is his own conscience, and I'm sure that he now needs peace. We, the allies, committed a lot of war crimes and I have read of American units that never took a single prisoner, not because Japanese didn't surrender (a lot actually did) but because they were shot out of hand. I read a report by a sergeant whose officer gave him five minutes to hand over a Japanese prisoner to their local head quarters which were about an hour's drive away - this was code for 'kill him' which the sergeant did. The officer had already expressed shock that the Japanese had been taken prisoner as that unit had a name for having not taken a single prisoner. One wonders about what actually happens today in Iraq and Afghanistan!
Mark, Cardiff,
Is he intrinsecally different from the Belgians who amputated Congolese upon order of the king or the Americans who torture in Abu Gharaib and Guantanamo upon order of the commander-in-chief, whose orders they believe they must obey?
Robert Desmarais Sullivan, New Orleans, LA
When any one of us sacrifices our own sense of personal responsibility and accountability to some 'higher command' (whether political,military or religious) we have destroyed our very self. The destruction of others soon follows.
There is a difference between fighting evil and joining it. Even the 'fog of war' cannot blur that distinction.
Akira Makino has carried a self-imposed burden of guilt for a very long time. Yet, to his credit, is worthy of a little respect for his belated honesty.
Keith Robotham, Bengtsfors, Sweden
And what was done with the medical information and why did 'doctors' like Mr. Makino possibly get off the hook? Take a look at the Yamato Dynasty by Sterling Seagrave and Peggy Seagrave. Their book provides eye-opening explanations and research (some of which is less than ideally referenced) into what the Japanese did with the looted Asian gold and medical information from the notorious Unit 731. Excellent, thorough research has been done by Linda Goetz Holmes, author of Japanese War Crimes, and Crimes of War by the late Sheldon Harris. Another touching memorial based on painful interviews was done by the late compassionate writer Iris Chang, called The Rape of Nanking.
Nancy C., Dubai, UAE
Mark from TX has a typically racist remark: "This is sad but nothing compared to what the Germans did to the Jews. "
I think it is shocking that some people believe that the dropping on the Atomic Bomb on Japan was somehow racist, yet they also believe that the crimes committed by Imperial Japan are less than that of the Nazis.
Sid, birmingham,
I am amazed at some of the comments which have been put forth; there are very few of you who seemed to have grasped the real meaning of this story. The majority seem to just demand that Japan admits to their war crimes (so does that mean the USA ever will?!). I also can't believe the first comment which is so degrading to Mr. Makino religion. Now I am not condoning his actions; but this man is not begging for forgiveness, he has paid severely for his crimes and should be applauded for the courage he has taken for trying to make up for them. There are not many in the world who would.
L Rochelle, London,
it may be true that a lot of japanese cars are made here in the us but where do the profits go....
guy, mphs, tn
Can you forgive those who does not ask for it? Unlike the Germans, Japan has not admitted to any wrong doing nor asked for forgiveness.
Norm, Las Vegas, Nevada
Nothing comes from hatred except more hatred. And to suggest to a buddhist that only Christ can bring forgiveness is frankly intolerant bigotry.
All acts of violence fester like septic wounds until the acts are owned and atoned for. It sounds to me as though this man is beginning his journey - I respect him for his bravery in admitting his crimes and taking ownership of them.
I for one wish him well. At the same time, I wish for peace to those he killed and maimed and to the relatives of those people. Let them also find peace.
Sorcha, Ottawa, Canada
Mankind can become pretty strange during wartime can't they? Seems to me, there should be a good movie made from this guys story from when he enlisted, his time aboard the Yamoto up to his confession. Sounds like the guy has been pretty tormented. Some proffessional interviewers ought to get his first hand story before he dies. He probably has tons of info and he is waiting to tell all.
Rick D., Sterling, Va.
So what is the statute of limitations on the prosecution of war crimes in the Phillipines?
Dean James, Montrose, USA/Colorado
The Japan of today is a different nation, and no one should be blamed for the sins of their parents, but also no one should forget these stories. The U.S.A. is not perfect, but it's far and away the greatest force for good in the world today, and I'm tired of hearing only negative comments about my country when its enemies are a thousand times worse. Be objective - the US was the "good guy" in 1945, and it's the "good guy" now.
Paul, Minneapolis, MN
Apparently God has granted this man a degree of repentance. What can any Christian do now but pray now for his forgiveness? When that repentance is full, it will be a kind of hell - maybe it already is for him - until the Lord of mercy grants pardon.
I once read a similar story about a Japanese solider who tortured POWs. He was so consumed with remorse that he tracked down one of his American victims and began writing to him. After some years the American did forgive him and even consented to meet him. The airport scene is unforgettable. Right there in the airport lobby, surrounded by hundreds of strangers, the Japanese man fell down at the feet of his victim and begged for forgiveness.
Jeff Culbreath, Orland, USA/California
I agree that this is abhorent, however attrocities continue to this day. Our american fiends should do well not to forget guantanamo bay and stop being so self righteous
stuart, edinburgh, uk
My grandmother's uncle survived the Bhatan death march. Need I say more? This Japanese toad should be tried as a war criminal, post haste.
Kelly, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Perhaps now Japan will be forced to address these issues and educate its citizens; something they have refused to do in the past.
Patricia D. Weed, OVERLAND PARK,
As for tb's comment that much war crime "by both sides" got "swept under the rug," I'm 73 and have read everything I can find on WWII. I have never read or heard of Americans commiting outright atrocities during wartime such as have been documented for the Japanese and Germans. Sure, some would-be prisoners of war got shot, but if there are any documented instances of barbarism on the Allied side, I can't find them.
Gene Smith, Edgefield, USA/SC
The Japanese at Unit 731 and similar establishments in Manchuria conducted barbaric experiments not only upon Russians and Chinese but also Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, any allied POW was at risk.
Stan_Expat, USA, USA
I do pity him, though. Until I am in his situation and have to choose to kill or be killed I'm not in a position to judge him. If UN laws would have him hanged, then I would support that, but I don't hate him. And 60 years later, I hope he finds peace and love and faith. If I had the option of being brutally murdered in my sleep or living with a lifetime of that guilt, I think I'd choose the first. Of course, that was the choice he had, and he chose the second. Was it reprehensible, yes. Horrific. And I might support him going to the gallows for his crimes. (I'm a bit uncertain on this because it was so long ago.) But I can't hate him.
lm, tx,
The atrocities that happen during war are inhumane and certainly not acceptable. It makes me sick to think about those poor people and the immense torture that they suffered. My father is a Korean War Veteran, and he is to this day carrying with him the pain and agony of so many men and women that he served with and the horrific things that happened to them and himself. May God bless all of the men and women who fight for our rights, and may God forgive the awful atrocities that take place because I have a very difficult time "forgiving" those who torture and mutilate others. It just amazes me how humans can do such acts against other humans and animals with no feelings at the time.
Donna, Houston, USA/Texas
try him for war crimes and execute.
give the vbictims justice now matter how late it is.
B. Stone, Eureka, USA, Ca.
This is truly horrific. I can understand why this man's conscience was so troubled. I can't imagine viewing this or participating is such horror ... .
However, he's just another sinner ... there is still hope for him ... he needs CHRIST to find peace and forgiveness as we all do. He's tried to make up for it which is more than most do ... May he find Christ in his sunset years, forgive himself and others forgive him - may he have peace.
Nancy, Branchburg, New Jersey
You say "Why do we agonize so much over Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and fire bombing of Tokyo in view of their atrocities, such as the Bataan death march and the rape of Nanking?"
An eye for an eye?
I'm so tired of tihs kind of logic nowadays.
One atrocity does not justify another atrocity, like 9.11 does not justify the invasion of Iraq. "It's OK to kill others if some of us get killed or if somebody committed a war crime." No wonder you Americans justified the Ab Grahib torture without shame.
Nour, Kirkuk , Iraq
You need to put yourself in his place. I do NOT forgive him as it is not my job to forgive, but God's. Also, do not condem this man either as he has tried to make amends. Remember, this was WAR and today we are still at war! War would not exist if our governments didn't exist.... Something to ponder.
Brad, Chesapeake, Virginia
Let's not blame the Japanese people for war atrocities commited by a fanatical military regime back in the 40's. For example, I hate the anti-american slander that comes out of the middle-east/europe based on the action of a few U.S. soldiers. In the end, I feel that their are many shameful acts commited by both sides some that are open knowledge and some that are still not. I say we learn from our failures from the past and move foward.
Fred, Los Angeles, CA
Theres a lot more atrocities japanese empire did to my fellow filipinos well ever know. they have ruined the philippines and for that i will never forgive the japanese people. Thank GOD for America for saving my country, for that i will always be grateful to America and im proud to say that i am an AMERICAN.
Rob, Tampa, USA
He is not asking for forgiveness. He has attempted for many years to make amends for his deeds, many of which were made under duress. I don't understand what reporting it after the war would have accomplished. Confessing or blaming others really only helps the confessor to clear their conscience. He did the honorable thing of accepting responsibility and related grief for his actions but perhaps it isn't to some people's level of acceptability. Some people do things of this nature only under certain circumstances. I think I can safely say the Akino Makino is one of those people.
CJ , Clermont, NY/USA
So what would you have done? Gone all John Wayne on the Imperial Army's ass? This story is deplorable and its content stomach-churning but think hard about how you would really have behaved. There is plenty of research out there that shows that humans (not just the Japanese, or "cowards") are capable of unspeakable actions when placed in horrendous situations. In short - I agree with you all, these actions are dreadful but shouldn't we understand how humans are capable of such deeds in order to prevent future repetition rather than to denounce a nation as "barbarians" and "zenophobes [sic]" and to write-off one man's inability to refuse the orders of his commander (who by proxy was passing on the orders of god) as cowardice.
Appalling, revolting, disgusting, atrocious: yes
Simple cowardice and barbarianism....not so sure it's that simple fellas
p.s. there are many other countries in the world that have some nasty skeletons in their cupboards...
Stanley Milgram, Seattle, US
Man's illimitable capacity for cruelty is truly breathtaking. But to say that any person could hate so deeply that the people who are hated no longer retain any trace of humanity is disingenuous.
If Mr. Makino was simply following orders or "learning", to wit: “It was educational...”, then, presumably, he would have still retained some trace of humanity. However, what we are to understand is that one person could hate so deeply that he would have no qualms about the vivisection of living human beings. The vivisection of which had to be a precursor to murder, or else the vivisected people could simply be seen as hideously disfigured torture victims--and for no discerable reason. I say this because the most common pretense for torture--other than sexual gratification--is for gleaned information, of which none was sought.
No, if Mr. Makino is seeking redemption for his crimes, he needs more than a simple confession. Shame is too low a price to pay for such unimaginable cruelty.
John Hunter, Palm Desert, CA
What a horrid legacy with which to be forced to live the rest of one's life. I think this man is suffering tremendously from and for the atrocities he committed. To live each day with the knowledge of such mutilation is beyond comprehension for me. I know the Japanese were brutal; my uncle survived the Bataan death march and an unanaesthetised appendectomy at the hands of the Japanese. He was never the same from that day to this. For those who condemn this man's soul to Hell; his soul is not yours to condemn. Only God can do that, and as much as it may infuriate you, if this man has asked for forgiveness through Jesus Christ, then he is forgiven. Just as we all are no matter how horrible our deed. The deeds this man committed sicken and disgust me, but I feel pity for him. There is nothing this man can ever do on this earth to undo what he has done and he is aware of this fact. To me, that is a pretty heavy penance to pay.
Ruby, Livingston, Texas
you know, this was totally disgusting to read. I was not born yet with this war, but was with vietman. my cousin went to vietnam, and for many years he would not talk of what happened over there, but after his stoke he did, and it was unbelieveable. It's no wonder that these men don't want to talk about what they have been through in all these wars.
This war, he was ordered to cut people open, or he would be killed, wow, ok then, better to do what you're doing then to all those people. too bad he's lived as long as he has, and buying uniforms and clothes for people and kids is suppose to make up for the terrible things he has done.
well, when he goes, he will have to answer to the above, hopefully no pearly gates. that is so sad, some people can be so cruel.
vivian, southaven, USA, Mississippi
What was done was/is disgusting! And at the same time I ask those not experienced with military law in true wartime, or knowledge of asian culture, to be slow to condem. Remember that we (USA) still feel justifed for nuking their women and children...to "shorten the war". How are words like "honerable / decent / fair / legal " defined when the goal is to stop an enemy at ALL cost? The word to persue understanding of is "Forgiveness"
Mark, Boise, Id
I was only 8 years old when WWII broke out. My family lived in the province of Zamboanga and we have heard of these atrocities perpetrated on the Filipinos. My father was in the Army but fled when the Philippines fell to the Japanese. He did his best to hide his family from the Japanese. Now, the rumors and reports that my father had received, have been validated by Mr. Makito' confession.
Please forward a printable full copy of this story to me. I tried 3x to print it but can only print the first page. Thank you.
M. Luisita Archer, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
Why is it that the "Christians" are the first to Judge and Condemn ? Did I miss the part of the Bible where that was decreed to be OK ? You people sicken me as much as this man's actions do.
What crimes were committed in the name your god ? Are you without sin ? Have any of you ever read your "holy book" ?
Let the old man fade away from history on his own. Nothing good can come from your diatribes, your judgements, your anger. At least he is admitting what he did ! Will any of you follow the teachings that you 'claim" to follow and forgive ?
Judge not. You did not live his life.
Jim McGuire, Chicago, USA
Certainly what he did was a war crime, and so far as I know is still prosecutable as such, assuming there is still a judicial forum with jurisdiction to hear the matter. But what I hear from the others who have responded is a lot of tough talk spoken with 62 years hindsight.
I wonder how tough they would have been had they been in Mr. Makino's shoes
Jerome, Milton, WI, US
War always brings out the worst in people. This man chose to obey orders that deserved to be disobeyed. Like many soldiers from many armies since wars have been fought. I sure wish the US pilots and commanders who fire-bombed Japan during WWII had the same pangs of guilt.
By not speaking of this tragedy until now there has been peace for him and his family for these many years. But, now the cats out of the bag. I can only hope that he will be able to make the most of his few remaining years by helping others as a way of adding something to this world instead of subtracting from it.
I wish him all the best in overcoming his evil deeds and appreciate his willingness to finally admit his horrific errors of judgement.
Scott V., Tacoma, Washington
Why isn't he being prosecuted as a war criminal?
How completely hypocritical it is go go after "nazis" and let the japenese get a pass......
GI Joe, Sunnyvale, CA
To Leon of Clarksville:
He never said God told him to do it, he said the Emperor was "a god" and must be obeyed.
God would NEVER tell anyone to do this.
CLM, Montgomery Township, PA
War is horrible, and he was a soldier following the orders of the emperor. We can blame him, but we would be blaming a puppet. He is a war criminal and a war victim. It is is easy to blame so hard to understand. Should we do what is right or what is easy?
Mike, Champaign, IL
In response to some of these comments - why should the Japanese in particular be singled out and forced to apologise for their war crimes? Every country has committed similar acts of cruelty, we need to accept and recognize this or we are guilty of a severe misrepresentation of History. What purpose does it serve to accuse the Japanese of having been singularly and unusually cruel? If we haven't heard about all the acts of British/American/French/everyoneelseintheworld's cruelty, it certainly does not mean it didn't happen, so less of the moral superiority, please...
R, London,
It seems God just turns his head sometimes.
Dave, peli