Japan apologises for Bataan death march

Japan’s ambassador to the US apologised on behalf of his country for the 65-mile forced march of US troops and allies during the Second World War that left 11,000 prisoners of war dead.

“As former prime ministers of Japan have repeatedly stated, the Japanese people should bear in mind that we must look into the past and to learn from the lessons of history,” Ichiro Fujisaki told a convention of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor veterans’ group in Texas, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

He said his country was extending a heartfelt apology for “having caused tremendous damage and suffering to many people, including prisoners of war, those who have undergone tragic experiences”.

Although Mr Fujisaki received a standing ovation from about half of the 400 to 500 veterans, others said the apology was overdue and did not seem sincere.

Former PoW Hershel Boushey told the ambassador that he did not accept “your apology” and that the atrocities and mistreatment many suffered was severe.

In 1942 Japanese captors marched about 78,000 prisoners of war – 12,000 Americans and 66,000 Filipinos – for six days on the Philippine island of Luzon to a prisoner-of-war camp in what became known as the Bataan Death March. Many prisoners were denied food, water or medical care, and some were stabbed or beheaded.

As many as 11,000 prisoners died, according to the US Air Force.

Survivor Tony Montoya, of Woodland, California, also questioned Mr Fujisaki’s sincerity.

“This young man knows very little of the atrocities,” he said. “They probably rehearsed him on it.”

But Abie Abraham, 95, of Renfrew, Pennsylvania, said it was time to move on.

“I was never one of those guys that worried about whether we got an apology or not,” said Mr Abraham.

“The way I look at it is – Japan is now our ally. Why should we get an apology from them?”

Retired Tech Sgt Joe Alexander, of San Antonio, said he was satisfied because “we finally got the apology that we wanted”.

About 73 surviving Bataan Death March veterans of the US Army and former Army Air Corps members attended the convention on Saturday, which served as the march survivors’ final reunion.