A top official of the Democratic Party of Japan on Monday lashed out at a remark made the previous day by the House of Representatives Budget Committee chairman that Japan purged Asia of colonialism during World War II.
Hirotaka Akamatsu, head of the major opposition party's Diet affairs committee, told reporters that the remark by Hosei Norota was "erroneous, irresponsible and anachronistic."
Norota, a former Defense Agency chief, said in a lecture meeting in Akita Prefecture, "Colonialism in Asia was rooted out to the hilt thanks to the Great East Asia War. Today, there are many people in Southeast Asian countries who say their nations were able to achieve independence (from the United States and Europe) thanks to Japan."