Is forgiveness possible? Or will the retributive ghosts of the past continue to haunt the collective memory of the peoples of East Asia? Progress toward reconciliation since the end of World War II has taken a largely economic form, with trade and investment providing a bond of mutual benefit. Perhaps such material considerations will open a path to peace and stability in East Asia but in the long run, cultural considerations, the deeply grounded common heritage developed over two millennia, offer a more solid foundation for true forgiveness and reconciliation.