The one German import that Japan has long since needed

A long history of bitterness

It is a long legacy of war crime denial by Japan that has left behind much bitterness in China, as well as in other nations. 

The bad start

Manchuria's occupation in 1931, above, is where it all started. A great many crimes committed by the Japanese army followed this and Pearl Harbour. 

While the Imperial Army of Japan was celebrating what could be loosely termed "victories" such as above in 1941, the war ended with the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which the average Chinese terms as "deserved ".

The restoration of diplomatic relations between China and Japan in the 1970s was deemed by many as highly unlikely. However, the culture of war crime denial was perpetuated by the governmental authorities, academics, and the average person in Japan. The establishment of the Yasakuni shrine to the nation's war dead (which this writer avoided on a visit to Tokyo) also memorializes notorious war criminals. Such things lead to action being taken by the Chinese public: 

This writer, formerly resident in China, can recall angry crowds of people rolling over Toyotas, shouting the words "Japan is evil!"

(“日本不行/不好！”）

A few worthwhile gestures

It was left to a Japanese Buddhist monk, who in 2006 left his thoughts and prayers  for the souls of those who were victims of the Nanjing massacre. What has been missing before and since have been governing authorities trying to make amends. South Korea and also Singapore (800,000 were victims of the Sook Ching massacre in 1942) are both waiting for changes in Japanese society and of the political class.

Cold relations

Japanese goods are widely boycotted in China because of domestically produced memorials such as the Nanjing Massacre Momorial Shoes above, and PRC government encouragement. 

The future solution to the problem of history

The prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe,  how can he address such a sore spot of pan-Asia history? He could end up being confronted by people turning their backs on him, which the Emperor of Japan has been subjected to numerous times (once in London when I was 12). It will likely take more than trade and peace. 

A key role model 

One former chancellor of Germany, Willy Brandt, introduced a set of principles in society. It enabled the population to face up to the nation's poor past, regardless of an individual's personal record. Willy Brandt himself had been a leading anti-nazi during World War 2. 

Leading by personal example, such as at the former Warsaw Ghetto (above), brought a change in culture to the nation as a whole. The average German ever since has viewed the nation's history differently, in an extremely honest way. This is a key change that Japan has long since needed, and furthermore, it is an action that Mr. Abe should do his very best to emulate.