Editorial: Japan ruling parties continue to fail WWII civilian air raid victims

The Japanese ruling parties are persistently failing to address the needs of civilian air raid victims from World War II, failing to show genuine remorse or action. Despite a bill that had been submitted in the previous Diet session for the first time in 38 years, it was scuttled without any discussion due to opposition and the ruling parties' refusal to engage in dialogue.

This bill aimed to provide a uniform 500,000 yen compensation to civilians who experienced physical or mental disabilities or injuries during air raids, the Battle of Okinawa, and other wartime events. The bill was drafted by a coalition of lawmakers from various parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), yet it never gained traction due to internal disagreements within the LDP over expanding the scope of compensation.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare alludes to a 2005 agreement between the government and ruling parties, which supposedly cemented all postwar settlements with symbolic gestures to Siberian detainees. However, this argument is weak, as victims were willing to relinquish claims to bereaved families and war orphans, leaving the estimated 3,000 eligible individuals in dire need.

The "war-damage endurance doctrine" has been used to justify the lack of compensation for civilian victims, despite the state providing pensions and support to former military personnel, military employees, and their bereaved families. This discriminatory treatment can be traced back to the belief that sacrifices and losses during war must be borne equally by all.

Throughout the years, relief bills were introduced 14 times by parties such as the Japan Socialist Party, but all were unsuccessful. This lack of progress is unjustifiable, as the state bears responsibility for initiating the war and mobilizing the public en masse during wartime. In a desperate attempt to address the concerns of the victims, the LDP responded to a questionnaire from victims' groups during the recent House of Representatives election, acknowledging the significance of the issue and the need for urgent action.

However, mere words are not enough; the LDP must take sincere and substantial steps to provide relief to these victims before it's too late, considering the aging population of the affected individuals.