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3 cabinet members, Abe visit Yasukuni Shrine; Suga sends offering

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Abe's visit to Yasukuni is a good sign that his health has recovered sufficiently for him to make a future court appearance to prove his "innocence" in all corruption charges.

21 ( +26 / -5 )

They should be celebrating the end of oppressive rule and lamenting the sacrifice all Japanese people suffered under the military rule, that caused so much damage to Japans image globally to this day.

20 ( +34 / -14 )

“sparking sharp criticism from neighboring countries “

Only China and Korea criticized the Japanese politicians’ Yasukuni visits. A visit to the shrine is a cheap way for globalist politicians like Abe and Koizumi to buy a patriotic image and keep support from conservative voters.

17 ( +25 / -8 )

Lost the last war and instead of fighting their current war against delta force they're putting on their best duds for a faux solemn ceremony for the long deceased. What about those that are suffering and dying now?

16 ( +23 / -7 )

Oh, and also, in order to control the growing infections, the government asked everyone to reduce outdoor movement by 50%, I wonder how this dog and pony show and its entourage contributed to their own goals? Can't make this up, they just keep shooting themselves in the foot.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

Abe makng a move to make a return to power in this upcoming elections?

15 ( +23 / -8 )

It is their right to honor their war dead, and no one has a right to judge

Aren't there class A war criminals enshrined there?

14 ( +46 / -32 )

Just last week Koike was asking people to avoid traveling home to pay homage to their ancestors. It’s no wonder that people are tired of listening to these hypocrites.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

It seems Abe San has plans to reenter active politics.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

Were they giving vaccines to the public at these events?

No?

Waste of time then.

13 ( +21 / -8 )

Hello Kitty 321

Some people here are comparing Yasukuni to cemeteries or memorials to the war dead in other countries, but Yasukuni differs in that it deifies the dead, including the war criminals.

Arlington National Cemetery buries Confederate soldiers, who fought for slavery (a crime against humanity).

On June 7, 1903, the first Confederate Memorial Day ceremonies were held in Arlington's Confederate section. President Theodore Roosevelt sent a floral arrangement, beginning a tradition continued by nearly every U.S. president. In 2009, President Barack Obama modified the tradition, sending two wreaths: one to the Confederate Memorial, the other to Washington, D.C.’s African American Civil War Memorial, in honor of U.S. Colored Troops.

https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/Confederate-Memorial

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Everyone dances around the fact that it's the US who reinstated these clowns to power in the post-war era, i.e. Abe's grandfather.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Yasukuni Shrine, Where War Criminals Are Revered

12 ( +27 / -15 )

Aren't there class A war criminals enshrined there?

Yep. Every time they do these offerings, every, single, time, they make the anniversary of Japan's Defeat a reminder that the right wing are always present and haven't left. And given Nippon Kaigi views of Asia and of the events of WWII they hold Japan back.

The shrine is just a list. They can't control spirits anymore than you can. They can choose to not go like the Emperor, but will not be stopped. In doing so, they remind the world that the warmongers haven't been exorcised from the nation. Abe was the one who made Japan an arms dealer after all. You don't do that if you have notions of contrition or moving on

11 ( +37 / -26 )

Yes, it's posturing to a degree. Trouble is, not just the shrine visit, but everything else about it is so predictable.

1) Politician goes to Yasukuni.

2) China and Korea go mental and make noises of disapproval.

3) Absolutely nothing of consequence happens.

4) Repeat from 1.

You'd think if this really bothered the Chinese and Koreans, they'd do more than just lodge official statements, which the Japanese government might pretend to take under advisement, while actually ignoring them entirely.

It really is like a play where everyone has their lines and knows what to say before it even happens.

11 ( +17 / -6 )

Nothing of those offering will help press Japan's current covid number.

10 ( +19 / -9 )

Desperate performance from the dregs of Showa fascism, anti-democratic, anti-human rights, anti-popular sovereignty, pro-war.

https://amara.org/en/videos/Sn9Zc0UeRQzF/en/1405913/3792355/

Meanwhile in the real world, the Tokyo and Okinawa hospitals are full and new cases of coronavirus are the highest ever.

10 ( +23 / -13 )

Who believes Japan will become militaristic country again because Japanese politicians visit Yasukuni to pray for the war dead? It is all politics. They ignore post war peaceful Japan and the country's contributions to them.

10 ( +17 / -7 )

It is their right to honor their war dead, and no one has a right to judge.

Not when that includes clase A war criminals. I doubt very highly that you lay flowers on Hitler's grave? Actually Hitler's grave is a parking lot, which is amazing. If they would make Yasukuni a parking lot, that would be better. The right wingers would have a fit

9 ( +34 / -25 )

I think what we can all take from this is tht Abe thinks his corruption accusations have all blown over, so his bowel problems have miraculously healed up. So watch out Leadership elections - Shin-chan Kackybotty is back!

Suga's on the way out and there are a lot of delusional old Obaasans who will be more than willing to vote this fascist Trump-lackey into office again for third bite of the cherry and a third chance to drag the country down even further.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Mate:

just imagine that Nazi in Germany will go to come to some "shrine" and will celebrate Hitler...

I do not think that people go to the Yauskuni Shrine to "celebrate" war criminals or wars. If you ask them what they prayed for, the most will tell you they prayed for peace and not to make the same mistakes they made. Praying at a place where war criminals were buried does not necessarily means they agree with them.

When US presidents sends floral arrangements at Confederate Cemetery, do they agree with the goal of Confederate army? No.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Joe Unc:

Forget the class A war criminals. The majority were criminals. If the far right wish to worship these souls...

If you understand an elementary level of Japanese religion, you will understand that Japanese people do not "worship these souls". They pray for the souls.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Fools or dinosaurs, I'm not sure which. Just humour them.

8 ( +31 / -23 )

What can you expect.... Abe is the grandson of a Class A war criminal.

Another disappointing and shameful act. Japan continues to widen the gap with its neighbors.

8 ( +23 / -15 )

I get it, Imagine if any of the third Reich had been included in any type of memorial other than just being burnt and having their ashes scraped into a river. It is a disgrace and is a loss of face to have them enshrined in any form whatsoever.

7 ( +22 / -15 )

So much for the peace love let's all be friends now remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki Olympics.

The true nature of the Japanese government is out for all to see.

I said this before the Olympics started that they would try to use it as poor Japan the victim not mean America and its allies and as soon as it was over head straight to Yasakuni.

7 ( +18 / -11 )

How to reduce 4,000 cases in Tokyo should be on their agenda list. Not the controversial Yasukuni issue which is endless .....

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The marketing machine has started, expect Abe to be back in power within 2 months.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

The marketing machine has started, expect Abe to be back in power within 2 months.

Oh he's coming back alright. He clearly didn't want to risk having a potential Olympic disaster on his record.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

This is seen as a move of Abe trying to return to politics.

Dangerous move.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Those denying the Tokyo Trials verdict on the Class A criminals will argue that politicians and generals starting the war did not commit a crime and were merely acting in the national interest, e.g., to gain more territory for an expanding population, secure essential resources like food and oil, etc. Japan still lacks food and oil in 2021 of course, but acquires them through trade, the sensible way.

At the start of WWII, Britain, France, Holland, and the USA all had colonies or proto-colonies in Asia. I do not say this to justify the huge slaughter brought by Japan, but only to point out the historical context of what was common sense at the time.

Unlike Class A, with Class B and C war crimes like Nanking, people generally deny they happened or claim they have been greatly exaggerated. They do not question whether the events themselves constitute crimes.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

KentarogaijinToday  12:21 pm JST

Good !!..

They can do it beacause it is:

...

And they will continue to do so..

THE END

You forgot the most important one for the likes of Abe:

Their re-elections.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

And here we go again,the ultra right winger Abe visiting a shrine where A-class criminals are there.

There are more important things to do than living in the pass,especially these days.

5 ( +20 / -15 )

takabin3650Today  08:51 am JST

Each country has the right to honor those who lost their lives either through forced conscription or as a military person.

With your logic then Germany should honour the nazis and their war class A criminals like Goebbels or Mengele because they fought for their country.

Even though nations have the right to mourn their death this also must come with an ethical values and logic.

The monsters enshrined in Yakusuni are are at the same level of the nazists or Milosevic.

In Italy the day when fascist Italy surrendered to the allied is called LIBERATION day,and it’s looked by the Italian institution and it’s people as a celebration of freedom over dictatorship.

How different from Abe and his right winger cronies.

5 ( +22 / -17 )

Abe san, and three LPD ruling government cabinet members are essentially honoring 14 World War Two leaders convicted as “Class A” war criminals, there is no escape from that fact.

It is the duplicity, the sending of a offering, its po-faced blatant dishonesty, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga should have just attended and be done with it.

While these politicians remain in office the poisonous mistrust and hatred will continue generation after generation.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

As for the Government of China the nauseating self-righteous pharisaism is despicable in the wake of their appalling record of human right, and genocide.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

oldman_13Today  07:05 am JST

It is their right to honor their war dead

They're not honouring anyone with these brazen, deeply sleazy and odious cash- and vote-grabbing PR exercises. I wouldn't expect someone who just keeps parroting the same platitude over and over to have much of an understanding of that, though.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

I agree with everyone who mentioned here that Abe is attempting another stint at PM... so all of sudden his tummy no longer aching? maybe he stepped down so Suga can take the blame for how covid was handled...and our super mario Abe will rise out of the pipes to save Japan!(sarcasm)

5 ( +9 / -4 )

@ableko45

You were not there but can agree or disagree all you like with those statements by who lived those days.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

What a bunch of foppish clowns. The long waistcoat is hilarious. Japanese love form over substance. There's nothing there there.

Democracy and media freedom are not based on ideas but rituals that mean little. It's North Korean juché philosophy Japanese style.

I guess that's why people say Japan is just North Korea but with money.

4 ( +24 / -20 )

Japanese love form over substance.

You dont get it do you? "Form" is substance here! It's part of the process that matters!

4 ( +12 / -8 )

It's not just like having a racist grandfather. You love him but know that attitude and way of thinking was a part of their time but is no longer acceptable.

This is like all the grandfathers went on a murder rampage. The level of national professional counselling required to get over that is immense and just papering over it isn't going to get rid of the memory. It has to be faced with eyes wide awake

Japan, you have friends. You have friends all over the world. We can be here to support you and help face and hear out history. Good friends help each other. This is why money doesn't solve anything, there's little action behind it.

If a Japanese PM laid flowers to the Korean girl statue with no speech or PR, banned being an arms dealer again, banned IJA symbols and associations, and included a national celebration of the end of the military junta that ruled over it and the progress of Japan ever since, that would be incredible. And maybe they can't do it by laws but they can by their own actions. And yes, impossible, but that's the hurdle it has to climb over. No amount of offerings are going to do it.

4 ( +18 / -14 )

oldman_13:

It is their right to honor their war dead, and no one has a right to judge.

Others can make any judgment (freedom of speech) but cannot take away worshiper's right (freedom of religion).

4 ( +11 / -7 )

The 1000 convicted class-A war criminals including Hideki Tojo, were enshrined as recently as 1978.

Prior to that it was completely kosher to honour Japan's 2.5 million war dead enshrined in Yasukuni since 1948.

So why can't they simply remove the nameplates of Hideki Tojo and the other 1000 convicted war criminals and make Yasukini kosher again?

4 ( +17 / -13 )

I dont know. If I was in their place and so many millions of Japanese died including a huge amount of innocent civilians I would want to honor them also. (But not war criminals.)

4 ( +10 / -6 )

It is their right to honor their war dead, and no one has a right to judge.

Half correct.

It is their right to honor their war dead - but everyone has a right to judge.

Just payin' his regards to his grandpappy.

Yep. No doubt the deepest of bows was an apology that he was unable to accomplish the mission of his grandfather which was to revise Article 9 of the constitution. Abe had pledged to complete the quest his grandfather started but couldn't finish.

4 ( +13 / -9 )

Japanese politicians lack eloquency. They cannot talk back to verval abuses and political propagandas of other countries.

3 ( +14 / -11 )

ShinkansenCabooseToday  09:14 am JST

Arlington National cemetery has class A war criminals as well, and US presidents and leaders always go there.

Ask any civil war enthusiast and they can furnish you with a huge list.

So let it be. Honoring your fallen is honorable even if you disagreed with how they got there.

What a load of rubbish,there is a big difference here.

The allied didn’t commit mass genocide as Nazi Germany Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan did.

Oh and I’m not american,I’m Italian-German European.

I love my countries for many things but ashamed for that portion of history.

So your comparison is incorrect.

3 ( +21 / -18 )

Another reminder of how delusional Japanese leaders are.

3 ( +19 / -16 )

Chibakun

Aren't there class A war criminals enshrined there?

Not under Japanese laws.

After accepting The Treaty of San Francisco in April 1952 and according to its Article 11,

The power to grant clemency, to reduce sentences and to parole with respect to such prisoners may not be exercised except on the decision of the Government or Governments which imposed the sentence in each instance, and on the recommendation of Japan. 

Japanese government, now a sovereign entity, immediately began working "to grant clemency, to reduce sentences and to parole with respect such prisoners." And many did get reduced sentences and parole.

Those who were killed by the Tribunal's death sentences were officially described as "公務死" (deaths while in service under captivity) in May 1952 by the Japanese Minister of Justice. The main motive for this was, not justification of militarism, but to give a legal status so that their families (wives and children) can receive compensation. If they were criminals, their families could not get legal compensation. The efforts were mainly pushed by antiwar Socialists. So there was not much controversy at that time.

Therefore, strictly speaking, under Japanese laws, they were not "war criminals".

Of course, years later, some people took advantage of this change of status and gave them an excuse to enshrine "war criminals" in Yasukuni since they were legally no longer criminals.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

"So if Abe could move back papi and his war criminal friends to a family cemetery nobody would say anything about him visiting them, nor about going to Yasukuni especially on important anniversaries."

First, there are no bodies or ashes there. Second, if the "un-enshrined" the A class war criminals, do you think that China and Korea would be okay with all of the politicians going there on August 15th?

I think that they'd still be upset.

And I think they'd still be upset if they "un-enshrined" the B and C class war criminals too.

Maybe people could think about why other countries don't get so upset every year about this.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

The Manchurian and Pacific War debacles were holy wars fought for the emperor at the time. I want to think it's doubtful the current emperor would want to be associated in any way with a holy war fought in his name, unless Japan's militant far far right can exert even greater power like they did in the 1930s.

I also want to believe Japanese people today want to maintain Japan as a nation that wants peace, remain a nation that wants nothing more to do with a war like the one previous generations had to fight to honor the emperor and further enrich the Zaibatsu.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Abe, furthering his right-wing credentials. Same with Suga and others.

Abe, who (conveniently) resigned in the face of an ongoing scandal, due to health reasons. Has risen from his sick bed. So, the progenitor of the Covid Olympics, is well enough to engage in loutish behavior, honoring war criminals.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Abe, preparing to arise from the dead aka illness and make another run at PM. Twice dismissed, once by his own hand, to escape the taint of scandal.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

kennyGToday  02:40 pm JST

@ableko45

You were not there but can agree or disagree all you like with those statements by who lived those days.

There are plenty of statements made by those who lived in those times that you probably wouldn't like very much. Then again as I doubt they'd fit with what you prefer to believe I daresay you would dismiss them all as lies. I don't understand that mentality, really. Someone could make credible claims about some of the horrible things the British have done, including to each other, and I would acknowledge them as either true or highly likely to be true. Could you do the same about the Japanese?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"i dont get what for is all of this circuss?

just to irritate korean,chinese and other neigbours?"

No, not at all. You can disagree with politicians going there, and the speeches by right wingers on Aug 15th, and the contents of the museum, but no - nothing that is done on August 15 there is PURPOSELY done to irritate people of other countries.

If there were no news about it, they'd still go there.

I might add that many normal Japanese go to Yasukuni on Aug 15 and on other days. Most people who go there aren't thinking about who was right and who was wrong. They remember the dead.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The debate here does not begin or end at Yasukuni Shrine or that museum monstrosity next door.

The fact that the electorate 18 to 30 years simply refrain from the democratic process.

Call it out, for what it is, a lack of interest, reticence, whatever.

That is the reason the ruling LDP, in all honesty, haven't the faintest concept of the 21st century global economy, or the political necessity for change.

It is year on year, a political ground hog day.

It is excruciating to witness, borrow, pledge promise and borrow again. year in year out.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

YrralToday  08:20 am JST

The people that suffered for Imperial Japanese sins,were our American Japanese,who only being punish for being Japanese

You do know that German and Italian Americans had the same treatment and any American, Brit, ect... caught in Japan when the war started got far far worse.

Not to mention the civilians bin place Japan invaslded like Singapore Indochina, Philippines, etc...

You take the USA or Canadian internment camps multiply the treatment in the worst one by 100 and you don't even come close to Singapore camps.

1 ( +16 / -15 )

With your logic then Germany should honour the nazis and their war class A criminals like Goebbels or Mengele because they fought for their country.

Mengele won't be Class A because it refers to people, usually politicians, who set their country on the course for war. It is "crimes against peace". Sadistic medical experiments are probably Class C, while more common war crimes, like lining up POWs and shooting them, are definitely Class B. A may come before B and C in the alphabet, but it is incorrect to assume that a Class A war crime must be more sadistic or morally worse than a Class B or Class C. This categorization of war crimes is a product of the Nuremberg trials and Class A (let's rename it Type A) was created to punish those who had started to the war. There was no existing legal framework at the time to do so.

Back to Abe and the others, but this is enfuriating yet all-too-predictable. The second the Olympics leaves town, all the peace and diversity guff is thrown away and its straight back to glorifying the war to satisfy people who didn't even experience it. As mentioned above, the head of the kokutai, the Imperial family themselves, don't go to Yasukuni.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

”Information on the fourteen most prominent Class A war criminals, which included the prime ministers and top generals from the war era, was forwarded to the shrine in 1966, and the shrine passed a resolution to enshrine these individuals in 1970. The timing for their enshrinement was left to the discretion of head priest Fujimaro Tsukuba, who delayed the enshrinement through his death in March 1978. His successor Nagayoshi Matsudaira, who rejected the Tokyo war crimes tribunal's verdicts, enshrined the Class A war criminals in a secret ceremony in 1978.” (Wikipedia).

It’s not really difficult to understand that things have changed in 1978 and that the enshrinment of Class A war criminals, and subsequent visits by government officials in their duties (while the emperor stopped going), are revisionist and ultra-conservative acts that should be recognized as such.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

Present Japan's ruling party LDP politicians including grandson of A class war criminal are full of nationalists who want to justify and beautify wartime Japan.

But they have no even ability to defend Japanese from Covid-19.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

"Aren't there class A war criminals enshrined there?"

Yes. And B and C.

So, you are okay with them going if there are only B and Cs there, but not if there are As?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

General MacArthur predicted future perfectly. He testified " the biggest mistake the USA had ever made in the last 100 years is it has supported and fed communists in China" He further predicted "It will be dragging the USA into endless conflicts against CCP's China and Soviet for next 100 years.... when he made testimonies on May 03 1951

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Wow, the hypocrisy of people like Abe who belongs to the neo fascist Nippon Kaigi - Japanese people really don't understand the ideology of key Jiminto Govt members and politicians - claiming to be committed to the Japanese Emperor when in fact Emperor Hirohito at first opposed the fascists who were assassinating moderate and relatively moderate politicians before WW2 and tried to stage military coups which were finally successful.

After WW2 the Emperor was angry to find out that war criminals had been enshrined at Yasukuni. It was never done with his prior knowledge or approval. And Abe's grandfather was well nicknamed 'The Monster of Manchuria'. Rape was just one of his crimes there. Japanese like him were why the Japanese diplomat who heroically gave visas to Jewish refugees quit his post in Manchuria.

No, I don't hold people responsible for crimes their family members did. when they were not around I hold them responsible for not disassociating themselves from those family members and accepting the truth of what those family members did. German politicians and other notables did that with their Nazi family members but here we are in 2021 with this ethically challenged ex PM with his shabby public behavior making a mockery of the WW2 dead including Japanese who died because they had no choice due to their fascist overlords.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Oh yeah and those war criminals ARE enshrined at Yasukuni. This was done by a special Shinto ceremony carried out by the priest there without the Emperor's knowledge.

Some misinfo by Zichi about this.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Simon FostonToday  06:00 pm JST

kennyGToday  02:40 pm JST

@ableko45

You were not there but can agree or disagree all you like with those statements by who lived those days.

There are plenty of statements made by those who lived in those times that you probably wouldn't like very much. Then again as I doubt they'd fit with what you prefer to believe I daresay you would dismiss them all as lies. I don't understand that mentality, really. Someone could make credible claims about some of the horrible things the British have done, including to each other, and I would acknowledge them as either true or highly likely to be true. Could you do the same about the Japanese?

It was not copay-pasted. I actually typed all those in to post those as you can see in my spelling mistakes. Before you tell me to do more about the Japanese, I appreciate if you could post what you claim I have dismissed. Isn't it easy for you?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Politicians and leaders visiting the wars' dead during Obon. Almost every nation has a place and day like this. Nothing new.

-1 ( +13 / -14 )

“Yes, sir. In the Pacific we bypassed them. We closed in. You must understand that Japan had an enormous population of nearly 80 million people, crowded into 4 islands. It was about half a farm population. The other half was engaged in industry. Potentially the labor pool in Japan, both in quantity and quality, is as good as anything that I have ever known.Some place down the line they have discovered what you might call the dignity of labor, that men are happier when they are working and constructing than when they are idling. This enormous capacity for work meant that they had to have something to work on. They built the factories, they had the labor, but they didn't have the basic materials. There is practically nothing indigenous to Japan except the silkworm. They lack cotton, they lack wool, they lack petroleum products, they lack tin, they lack rubber, they lack a great many other things, all of which was in the Asiatic basin. They feared that if those supplies were cut off, there would be 10 to 12 million people unoccupied in Japan. Their purpose, therefore, in going to war was largely dictated by security.”

 

General MacArthur.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

How different are the mindset of Japan ultra right wing government and the German one.

Abe and his ojisan friends could learn from Merkel:

https://www.google.co.jp/amp/s/amp.dw.com/en/dutch-liberation-day-merkel-says-germany-has-eternal-responsibility-for-nazi-crimes/a-57436933

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

@ Kentarogaijin

Tell me what the Japanese word 丸太 meant in WW2 and the number 731.

There is not any pride there,is there?

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

@Hideomi Kuze,

Great comments.

The way they have performed ever since the Diamond Princess debacle I don't know how they dare show their faces in public.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Look, I asked my J family attending High School a while back, there knowledge into a number of the names of these 14 convicted war criminals.

One actually piped, yes he's a comedian, very funny. On TV last week. He's in that coffee ad.

I am serious.

None have a political bone in there bodies. None will vote.

Education. Yes

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Each country has the right to honor those who lost their lives either through forced conscription or as a military person. The term "war criminal" is a reflection of the victors writing history. There are those feel the U.S. president who dropped a genocidal bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a war criminal. Military leaders who followed the west's behavior of manifest destiny were irresponsible and bear a heavy responsibility for failure to assess the military situation correctly as well as their expansionist policies. "War criminal" should be reserved for Dr. Ishii and others who committed atrocious medical crimes similar to napalming Vietnamese and trying to wipe out aborigines, American Indians, etc. Japan has committed to not following a bad mistake of following the west. We all honor those who lost their lives in different ways. There are those at Yasukuni Jinjya who were taken away from their families and forced to fight a war they did not want to participate. We will continue to honor those poor people who were forced to join the military.

-3 ( +16 / -19 )

Japanese politicians’ all time favorite activity = provoke their neighbors. And the Japanese wonder why their neighbors act like that. Will the Japanese still honor the war dead if they killed their mothers or sisters? Knowing the Japanese mentality and honor system, it would be a full blooded revenge. The hypocrisy just amazes me.

-3 ( +13 / -16 )

I don't see a problem with this shrine per se. I see the problem in the media theater that they are making about it. Do you want to visit this shrine? Then do it as a regular person, as people who visit this shrine every day (the reason for visiting and the mindset is irrelevant at this point), and as tourists from different countries. This is just another media spectacle and a blatant attempt to make themselves visible for some reason and possibly reopen old wounds and throw salt in them. If they didn't announce their visit like this publicly and just got together and visited like ordinary people, no one would say a thing.

But what can we expect from nippon kaigi and it's members, right?

-3 ( +12 / -15 )

Hope the shinto gods give him a more acute tummy ache as a result. We all know he has been desperate to visit his war criminal relatives there for some time, and now he can. Hope he gets prosecuted with the various scandals he engaged in as one of Japan's worst PMs in history (and that's saying a lot, given the revolving door).

-3 ( +14 / -17 )

Without Japan there would have been no independence for South East

I disagree with this. Western colonial powers left Asia because of World War I & World War II.

During those wars western countries basically killed off each other in the tens of millions. This weakened their economy so much that they could no maintain their colonies. factories were destroyed in the west.

The Japanese didn’t end colonialism in World War II LOL they were the main purveyors of colonialism! I would’ve colonize the holidays and it would’ve been hell on earth for Asians.

The Japanese committed atrocities and were by no means benevolent rulers

Again colonialism ended in Asia not because of the Japanese LOL but because of the cataclysmic number of deaths of young men caused by World War I and World War II.

In my opinion had the axis powers won the war Japan would’ve started a process of extermination just like the Nazis.

Keep in mind Japan had tremendous respect for the Germans.

The education system in Japan is based off bismarckian Germany as is their science.

It is not too far-fetched to contemplate that the Japanese would’ve also copied German extermination policies in Asia.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

@kennyG

yes there were winners and losers but thinking that the Japanese ended western colonialism or that they were better is absurd.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

Japans dark underbelly.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

When I tuned into the J news this morning, and I saw the very first lines 3 cabinet ministers, Abe, YS, before I even scrolled down to read the rest of the article, the first words that came into my mind is, I bet that 2 or 3 other neighbouring countries kick off and start moaning about X Y and Z, and as I scrolled down, bingo how right I was. its more predictable that the sun rising, and the sun setting.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Hideomi Kuze

Form without substance, except even this form is pissing other people off.

Japan ruling class is trying its hardest to kill Japan.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Cricky

exactly. That is the only way Japan can move on. By ignoring what happened they are forever held back until change occurs.

-4 ( +20 / -24 )

It is their right to honor their war dead, and no one has a right to judge.

Of course. Most Japanese who honour their war dead do so at Nippon Bukokan.

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

Sf2k,they wondering ,why they are reaping ,what they sowed,76 after the war,the US thought less of Japan and Japanese people at this time,that were gonna bomb them into the stone age,even the deragatory name for Japanese, Japanese that do not learn from history,are bound too make the same mistakes

-4 ( +11 / -15 )

In the middle of a state of emergency when everyone is expected to avoid unnecessary outing, 3 cabinet members, Abe proudly show the way to complacency by holding a PR visit of Yasukuni Shrine

Fixed the title

@Yrral

US thought less of Japan and Japanese people at this time

Usually betraying your allies by attacking them and stealing their land is not a good way to get approval from the group members. Having little if any regard for the people under your rules including your service men and ethnic group is not either the best way to get it. Refusing to play by the rules of a games one insisted in taking part too will also reflect negatively.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

They didn’t give their lives. Their lives were taken, but they were no angels.

Forget the class A war criminals. The majority were criminals. If the far right wish to worship these souls why not have a joint shrine with the Nazis. Remember their brothers in arms . They were on the same side. In fact the Nazis were actually horrified by Japan’s atrocities. Come on Japan don’t forget your buddies.

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

Sound track could be “cheesy 80’s” Shin Kuhn… we see your true colors shining through, we see you true colours and that’s why no one likes you!

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Don't cry for me Yasukuni

The truth is 

I never left you

From Meiji through Showa 

Dai Nippon's existence

Broke every promise

Please keep your distance

-5 ( +9 / -14 )

@Meiyouwenti

Only China and Korea criticized the Japanese politicians’ Yasukuni visits.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304483804579281103015121712

Abe Visit to Controversial Japanese Shrine Draws Rare U.S. Criticism

Yasukuni visits by Japanese politicians are not OK with the US either. The US recommended place of memorial visits by Japanese politicians is Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1323787/kerry-visit-tokyo-cemetery-seen-us-message-over-yasukuni-shrine

Kerry visit to Tokyo cemetery seen as US message over Yasukuni Shrine

John Kerry's laying of wreath at war graves cemetery in Tokyo seen as an example to hosts, whose visits to war shrine stir regional tensions

-5 ( +10 / -15 )

Well, to be fair, Botchan's own grandfather should have been classified as a war criminal too, but I guess he benefited from special treatment from the US. The only saving grace is that nepotism won't happen with Botchan's children.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Some people here are comparing Yasukuni to cemeteries or memorials to the war dead in other countries, but Yasukuni differs in that it deifies the dead, including the war criminals.

-5 ( +9 / -14 )

To the contrary to Japanese rightwinger's misunderstanding that the US is OK with Japanese politicians visiting Yasukuni on Surrender Day, the US government is disgusted with the practice and already made a diplomatic protest against Japan in 2013, which was not reported by Japanese press.

Furthermore, the US government considered Tojo Hideki and fellow A-class war criminals equal to the likes of Osama Bin Laden, and made sure it wasn't possible for Japanese rightwingers to pay respect to his grave, the US cremated Tojo's body and spread his ashes over the Pacific Ocean in order not to leave a physical grave.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/world/asia/japan-tojo-remains.html

Where Did Hideki Tojo’s Body Go After His Execution? A Mystery Is Solved.

The documents show the cremated ashes of Tojo, one of the masterminds of the Pearl Harbor attack, were scattered from a U.S. Army aircraft over the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city, south of Tokyo.

American officials apparently taking extreme steps meant to keep Tojo’s remains, and those of six others executed with him, away from ultra-nationalists looking to glorify them as martyrs. The seven were hanged for war crimes just before Christmas in 1948, three years after Japan’s defeat.

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

We do not celebrate VJ day ,why lots of Japanese could of not been born Google Japan Atomic Bomb List

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

I would’ve colonize the holidays and it would’ve been hell on earth for Asians.

Need editing button!

It should read

“they would have colonized all of Asia and it would have been hell on earth for Asia

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

The people that suffered for Imperial Japanese sins,were our American Japanese,who only being punish for being Japanese

-8 ( +11 / -19 )

Arlington National cemetery has class A war criminals as well, and US presidents and leaders always go there.

Ask any civil war enthusiast and they can furnish you with a huge list.

So let it be. Honoring your fallen is honorable even if you disagreed with how they got there.

-9 ( +16 / -25 )

It is their right to honor their war dead, and no one has a right to judge.

-22 ( +36 / -58 )

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