The Life Story of a Former Imperial Japanese Soldier on “Imperial Responsibility”

A Potential for Mutual Understanding Through Active Interviews with a Former South Korean Soldier

Abstract

This study focuses on the life story of Mr. Akira Hiroto, a former sub-lieutenant in the Japanese Navy, and aims to examine the active interview. In his national view/patriotism during the war and the post-war peace idea, the victims of Japanese imperialism were excluded. However, by perceiving existence of a researcher, who came from South Korea, the former colony of the Japanese Empire, he is reminded of Japanʼs imperial responsibility and talks about imperial responsibility. In the process of reaction, we can find the possibility of mutual understanding of “imperial responsibility”.