Photo/Illutration Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui used a quote from the Imperial Rescript on Education in materials for training new city employees. (Akari Uozumi)

In every matter, there are always positive and negative aspects. The Holocaust was an absolute evil, but is it possible that the Nazis did something good as well?

This unsettling and smoldering question, simmering darkly beneath the surface of society, is directly addressed by the authors of a book titled “Kensho: Nachisu wa ‘Yoikoto’ mo Shitanoka?” (“A verification: did the Nazis do ‘good things’ as well?") I found it an intriguing read.

Authored by Takuya Onodera and Daisuke Tano, both experts who have spent years studying Nazism, the book confronts some persistent misconceptions about the Nazi regime. Why, for example, is it wrong to think that some aspects of Nazi rule, such as Hitler’s family policies or the construction of the Autobahn, were “good?”

Through meticulous fact-checking and solid reasoning, the book demonstrates how trying to find the good in Nazis is overly simplistic and one-sided thinking, quashing the argument there were positives about them.

The interpretation of history is a matter of personal freedom. However, it should be based on historical facts. You can quickly lose sight of the entire picture if you fail to draw upon the cumulative knowledge of experts. The authors stress this danger, commonly encountered when reflecting on history.

With that in mind, let us think about one piece of news from this perspective.

The mayor of Hiroshima quoted some parts of the Imperial Rescript on Education, a document that was widely used in education during the pre-war and wartime eras, in training materials for newly hired employees of the city government.

He suggested there were elements in the document that deserved to be appreciated, and he expressed his intention to continue using it.

The rescript was a document based on words originally spoken by Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) to his subjects. Its core message is to call on the people to sacrifice their lives for the emperor when necessary.

While it may contain some expressions that can resonate with the Japanese of today, there is no convincing case for quoting them in training materials.

One cannot help but wonder whether there was an ulterior motive behind the act of referencing it today, an act that seemingly overlooks its root message.

Ultimately, this brings us to one crucial reflection: What did we learn from that war? Was it not the horror of being forced to uniformly align in one ideological direction, no matter which?

The Imperial Rescript on Education was a symbol of the dangerous path the nation took. Its historical significance should not be forgotten.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 17

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.