Japan's colonial rule triggers anger from Koreans and Chinese at Asian Games

Japan has protested to Asian Games organisers in South Korea after fans unveiled a large banner (photo) showing Ahn Jung-Geun (a Korean who assassinated a Japanese official a century ago) was shown in a stadium when South Korea beat rivals Japan 1-0 in the Asian Games soccer quarterfinals on Sunday.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/other/2014/10/01/418407/Japan-protest.htm

Ahn Jung-Geun is considered a hero for killing Hirobumi Ito, a samurai of Choshu domain. Choshu is modern-day Yamaguchi prefecture of current prime minister Shinzo Abe. Ito was Japan’s first prime minister and its top official in Japanese-occupied Korea and killed during a visit to China in 1909. Ahn was hanged the following year, when Korea formally became a Japanese colony.

Japan de facto controlled Korea since late 19th century after a bunch of criminals paid by Japan murdered an opponent to Japanese manoeuvres to annex Korea. Assassins murdered the Korean Queen in her Palace in Seoul October 8th 1895.

Here goes the story: "... upon entering the Kyeongbok Palace's Queen Min's quarters (Okhoru Pavilion), the assassins "killed three court women suspected of being the queen. When they confirmed that one of them was the queen, they burned the corpse in a pine forest in front of the Okhoru Pavilion, and then dispersed the ashes. She was 43 years old. The military personnel involved were tried at a military court. All were given the verdict of not-guilty on the grounds of insufficient evidence."

So today, many Koreans and Chinese regard Ahn Jung-Geun as martyred for Korean independence at a time when Japan colonised and slaughtered Korea. Some say a comparison could be made between French Resistance freedom fighters who fought Nazis occupying France and Ahn Jung-Geun's nationalists.

There is a Chinese-Korean memorial hall opened in China's Harbin city, where Ito was shot (See Ito's photo just before the killing). Ahn Jung-Geun is celebrated as a hero in Korea. Hirobumi Ito is celebrated as a great politician in Japan.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/common/printpreview.asp?categoryCode=363&newsIdx=106442

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Tokyo Beijing Forum : How to inspire trust among arch-rivals?

Plenary session 

Certainly the most important public gathering between Chinese and Japanese VIPs diplomats, politicians and scholars, military and business leaders, media and artists. The opening session started with speeches from Japan foreign minister Kishida, ex PM Fukuda and ex UN official Yasushi Akashi currently iHouse Pt facing them several top envoys from Beijing attending today and Monday Genron NPO organised "Tokyo Beijing Forum" 10th Edition. Hotel Okura, Tokyo.

China sees US JAPAN alliance as tool to surround China" a Beijing VIP panelist said and "called Tokyo and Beijing to avoid security crisis. If both countries fail in their collaboration and peace the conclusion is obvious." A Chinese panelist Mr Wei demanded to Japanese officials not to go to Yasukuni Shrine.

Hot atmosphere.

In their debate facing public, panelists consider China and Japan should acknowledge divergences and make efforts to have the coming Apec summit held with success.

At Tokyo Beijing Forum", both countries send their officials to cool down frictions climate (Cold War alike) between them since ex PM Noda nationalised the Senkaku Diaoyu islands. Chinese are on the defensive instructed by the top Beijing authorities, commented a well informed source.

Japanese journalists have a tendency to debate with arrogance or are they just shy facing younger Chinese journalists?

Lots of exchanges. Sometimes aggressive sometimes condescending, Chinese see US-Japan alliance as tool to surround china" a Chinese VIP panelist say and "call Japan and China to avoid security crisis. If both countries fail in their collaboration and peace the conclusion is obvious." A Chinese panelist Mr Wei also calls Japanese officials not to go to Yasukuni Shrine.

In conclusion, panelists consider China and Japan should acknowledge divergences and make efforts to have the coming Apec summit held with success.

Trade reduced between China Japan. Japan is just the fifth trading partner and maybe become sixth if Korea takes over the fifth rank. Economy and trade difficulties between Japan and China seen here as cause of very serious concerns and aggravated relationship for all Asia.

At least Chinese and Japanese talk with gravity of their situation as two superpowers the 2nd and 3 rd economic powers.

Yasushi Akashi (R) - Joel Legendre (L)

"Impression that the path is very fragile between a free Japanese society and a repressive centralised China. Good manners are not always very well practiced by visiting Chinese officials and media and Japanese diplomats look a bit too shy" one participant commented...