Japan had surrendered and was forced to allow Americans bases basically to prevent it re-emerging as a threat. At least the Americans left their sovernity intact post Sept 1945. If the trio, Germany, Japan and Italy had won the war India would have been split between the trio and independance would have been severely delayed - probably indefinitely. S/Koreans will tell you that pre-war Japanese were extremely cruel masters. Losing the war had a sobering effect on their policies. Though they were technologically advanced even pre-war to the level of that era. Their attitude developed them, but policies destroyed them. But politics make strange bed-fellows and in any case one does'nt get anywhere holding grudges. Japan is the only country that can qualify to talk of the horrific effect of Nuclear weapons which is a separate issue altogether. Nuclear weapons as a deterrent is a flawed policy, continueing because of the Western hypocricy of the Nuclear 'haves' preventing the 'have-nots' and not proceeding themselves with complete dis-armament. Today the nuclear stockpiles can destroy life on earth 5 times. Radiation would last several hundred years. Life would need to restart from the oceans once again. Imagine nuclear weapons in the hands of a terrorist organisation. Nuclear power 'yes, Weapons? No! In the above case however both premiers were just exchanging pleasantries, Manmohan Singh in any case is too embarrassed at present to be doing any serious talk with the Japanese.
