SDHF Newsletter No.341 Open Letter to the National Archives of Japan Regarding the Special Internet Exhibit “Diplomatic Negotiation between Japan and the United States” A Final Report

Open Letter to the National Archives of Japan
Regarding the Special Internet Exhibit
“Diplomatic Negotiation between Japan and the United States”
A Final Report

Professor Sugihara Seishiro sent an open letter of protest to the National Archives of Japan regarding the Special Internet Exhibit, “Diplomatic Negotiation Between Japan and the United States—the process leading to the outbreak of the War seen through archives,” on December 8, 2019. He thereafter sent three additional open letters rebutting the responses from the National Archives.

Since the open letter touched on very important issues on the Japan-US War and the US occupation of Japan, we published the open letters with English translations in our Newsletter.

Now, Professor Sugihara issued his final letter on this subject:

*English translation of the final letter:

URL: https://www.sdh-fact.com/essay-article/1853/
PDF: https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/SugiharaFE.pdf

The point of contention concerned the treatment of Sugihara’s book, Study on Japan’s Diplomacy after the Opening of the War between Japan and the United States, which addressed the very crucial issues raised in the Exhibit. Moreover, the book was translated into English, Chinese and Korean but was not listed in the reference materials of the Exhibit.

Later, it turned out that responsibility for producing this Special Exhibit rested with the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records. Mr. Hatano Sumio, Director of the Center, recognized both Sugihara’s protest and demand as valid. Mr. Hanato took action to include Sugihara’s book in the reference materials, reforming the Exhibit.

Professor Sugihara intended to ask the National Archives for an apology, but after discussions with Mr. Hatano, he believed that it would be better to publish a book of the discussions with Mr. Hatano.

On December 20, 2021, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the War between Japan and the United States, A Disease Called Yoshida Shigeru—Will Japan Return to the World? (Jiyu-Sha) was published. Its sequel, Sequel: A Disease Called Yoshida Shigeru—Will Japan Return to the World? (Jiyu-Sha) is slated for publication on January 23, 2022.

These two volumes have more than a total of 1000 pages, with valuable information and thoughts on the issue mentioned above.

MOTEKI Hiromichi, Acting Chairman
for KASE Hideaki, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact