Yes, Japan has issued multiple official apologies to China for wartime aggression, notably the 1995 Murayama Statement and Prime Minister Koizumi's 2005 apology, expressing deep remorse for inflicting damage, though many Chinese people feel these aren't sincere enough due to continued historical disputes and varying political interpretations. These apologies acknowledge Japan's colonial rule and aggression but sincerity remains a complex issue.
China refused war reparations from Japan in the 1972 Joint Communiqué. Japan gave official development assistance (ODA), amounting to 3 trillion yen (US$30 billion). According to estimates, Japan accounts for more than 60 percent of China's ODA received.
Yes, Japan has expressed deep regret and sorrow for its actions in World War II, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, though this regret is often framed within broader apologies for the war itself and its devastation, with post-war leaders emphasizing a "Peace Nation" path and expressing remorse for the suffering caused to many countries. While many Japanese leaders and citizens came to view the attack as a catastrophic strategic blunder that "awakened a sleeping giant" and made diplomatic resolution impossible, the initial justification was to cripple the U.S. fleet to secure conquests in Asia, a gamble that failed spectacularly.
The Japanese have turned their hate away from the Chinese people and towards the Chinese government. Japan wants to help the Chinese people, and will be kind to them, but don't like the Chinese government (and sometimes culture) as a whole. That being said, Japanese and Chinese are very diverse in thought.
The Japanese, naturally, were disappointed to hear of Hitler's death. They were more concerned, however, over how Germany would react. After the collapse of the fascist regime in Italy, Italian fascists formed a rump state and continued to fight on, and the Japanese hoped that Germany would do the same.
The main defensive argument was the alleged crimes had yet to be established as international law and Japan's actions were in self-defense.
It was the rival Weltanschauung, Marxism (which for him embraced social democracy as well as communism), with its insistence on internationalism and economic conflict. Beyond Marxism he believed the greatest enemy of all to be the Jew, who was for Hitler the incarnation of evil.
The United States. Since World War II, Japan's most important tie has been with the United States. Japan's mutual defense treaty with the United States is central to its security. The United States is committed to defend Japan and maintains military bases in Japan partially for that purpose.
China is generally considered stronger economically and in terms of raw military numbers, with a much larger economy and personnel, but Japan possesses highly advanced technology, a technologically superior military (especially air/missile defense), and a powerful ally in the U.S., making it a formidable, high-tech force, though facing challenges like an aging population and economic stagnation. A direct conflict would be complex: China dominates in sheer scale, while Japan excels in quality, modern equipment (like F-35s), and strategic alliances, potentially winning a long-term technological/supply-chain battle.
Apart from tourism, Japan is heavily dependent on China for supply of critical minerals used in items from electronics to cars.
The most serious long-term strategic failure was Japan's complete inability to understand its own industrial weakness and the overwhelming industrial power of its enemies. Japan had no guarantee or assurance that Germany would declare war on the United States.
Tora! as "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." Yamamoto in 1940. Yamamoto is said to have written the quote in real life, but there is no evidence of this.
When news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor reached Churchill, he immediately realized what that meant: The United States would now have no choice but to take part in the war. In his own words, written in a history of World War II, Churchill said that night he “went to bed and slept the sleep of the saved.”
On September 18, 1931, an explosion destroyed a section of railway track near the city of Mukden. The Japanese, who owned the railway, blamed Chinese nationalists for the incident and used the opportunity to retaliate and invade Manchuria.
Over 80% of Japan's landmass is covered by mountains and hills, making it a very rugged, island nation where most people live in narrow coastal plains and valleys, with forests covering a large percentage of these mountainous areas as well.
Japan had possession of roughly 25% of China's enormous territory and more than a third of its entire population. Beyond its areas of direct control, Japan carried out bombing campaigns, looting, massacres and raids deep into Chinese territory. Almost no place was beyond the reach of Japanese intrusion.
The "Japan 5-minute rule" refers to extreme punctuality, meaning you should arrive 5 minutes before a scheduled time (e.g., 9:55 AM for a 10:00 AM meeting) to be considered "on time," as being exactly on time is seen as late, showing respect and reliability; it's part of the Japanese concept of go-fun-mae koudou (five-minute prior action). This emphasis on being early is deeply cultural, contrasting with many Western norms, and applies to business, appointments, and even trains, where delays over 5 minutes warrant apologies and certificates.
The United States is consistently ranked as having the #1 most powerful military in the world for 2025 by organizations like Global Firepower and Business Insider. This ranking stems from its massive defense budget, advanced technology, global power projection, and dominance in air, sea, and cyber warfare, though China has the largest number of active personnel.
The Japanese 80% rule, known as "Hara Hachi Bu", is a Confucian principle advising people to stop eating when they feel about 80% full, not completely stuffed, to support health and longevity. This practice encourages mindful eating, helps prevent overeating, and is linked to lower rates of illness and longer lifespans, particularly observed in Okinawan centenarians. It involves slowing down during meals, listening to your body's fullness cues, and appreciating food as fuel rather than indulging to the point of discomfort.
The Australia–Japan partnership is our closest and most mature in Asia, and is fundamentally important to both countries' strategic and economic interests. The relationship is underpinned by a shared commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as common approaches to international security.
The United States has formal diplomatic relations with most nations. This includes all United Nations members and observer states other than Bhutan, Iran and North Korea, and the UN observer Territory of Palestine.
August Friedrich Kubizek (3 August 1888 – 23 October 1956) was an Austrian musical conductor and writer of Czech origin best known for being a close friend of Adolf Hitler, when both were in their late teens. He later wrote about their friendship in his book The Young Hitler I Knew (1955).
Then, saying "It is finished, goodbye", Hitler took Eva back into their rooms for the last time. During the afternoon Hitler shot himself and Eva took the poison capsule that he had given her.