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Kishida sends ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine; former PM Abe visits

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Humane history is the history of aggression, so was China, so was the peninsula. Just because there sea exits for the island country, it doesn't make any exception. Call Perry and blame him for forcing a peaceful island country to open up the gate and disturb them all.

3 ( +13 / -10 )

No! No!, J people, more Importantly the coming generations must be fully informed, openly honourably how there diet member stands on revisionism.

Through the education system, along with there affiliation of right wing extremism.

Through the front door.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

It is remarkable that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida won’t just admit his deep political connection to Japan Imperial past and walk through the front door of the Yasukuni shrine.

Is he so ashamed?

-17 ( +5 / -22 )

Peter14Today  03:36 pm JST

"Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 or 靖國神社, Yasukuni Jinja, lit. Peaceful Country) is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan from the Boshin War of 1868–1869 through the First Indochina War of 1946–1954.[1] The shrine's purpose has been expanded over the years to include those who died in the wars involving Japan spanning from the entire Meiji and Taishō periods, and the earlier part of the Shōwa period.[2]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasukuni_Shrine

I would call that a National shrine.

So if your favourite guy Putin get stopped, dies and is interned in a Russian war memorial with others you view as criminals, and future Russian leaders pay their respects to him and the rest I guess you eill6 have no problem with that!

Because it is exactly what is going on with Yasukuni shrine or are double standards again in play?

-18 ( +4 / -22 )

Offering? Leave a finger or toe, that’s all most interned had to offer after death for the likes of Abe.and his family.

-17 ( +5 / -22 )

@James

You omitted the fact that the fourteen most prominent Class A war criminals, which included the prime ministers and top generals from the war era, were forwarded to the shrine in 1966, and the shrine passed a resolution to enshrine these individuals in 1970.

Because to me that is unfortunate but should not over shadow the deaths of millions of loyal Japanese from the entire Meiji and Taishō periods, and the earlier part of the Shōwa period, from WWI and other conflicts other than some WWII criminals. As long as the focus is on the few rather than the many, the injustice is simply reversed.

The allied side had people who were also responsible for crimes against humanity. British bomber Command's "bomber Harrison" was responsible for the firebombing of Dresden. America for incendiary bombing of Tokyo killing 80,000 civilians. I do not condemn Allied leaders laying wreaths at monuments that may include their own "uncharged" criminals. War makes men do horrific things to "save lives" on their side and eliminate enemies. Times have allowed the production of smart guided precision bombs, missiles and even artillery. Even so some go off target, civilians still die.

Russia is relying on dumb unguided munitions because it is cheaper and they have no concerns about killing civilians as they fully expect no war crimes will ever be brought successfully against them.

This is an issue that will not solve itself but it may fade with time as those who were involved pass on into history.

8 ( +19 / -11 )

Just wondered. Those US bomber crew who lost their lives while indiscriminately bombing Japanese cities—were they buried and honored at the Arlington as war heroes?

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

The modern Japanese are rightly horrified at what Russia is doing to Ukraine while at the same time being totally oblivious to the fact that what Russia is doing mirrors what their own country did to China,South Korea,etc.

Slow down dude . You could be horrified hearing or watching what's going on now by yourself but the modern Japanese are supposed to feel the same for the past when you did not even exit? Especially the stuffs they are forced to swallow without bit of own thinking by western propaganda?

Shall I again paste what those real Asian leaders had described for what Japan did?

Your "etc" is too good. Your inclusion of South Korea is just like their chief card to endlessly blame Japan by what you call Sex slavery. Do you get it? The peninsula was Japan and there was no such military aggression whatsoever for it to be annexed

0 ( +17 / -17 )

EastmanToday  01:38 pm JST

just imagine that say german president will send flowers to some cemetery where some top nazis are buried.

No need to imagine anything. It happened in 1985.

A German Chancellor and the US President.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/05/this-day-in-politics-may-5-1985-565776

4 ( +10 / -6 )

@Peter14

Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 or 靖國神社, Yasukuni Jinja, lit. Peaceful Country) is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan from the Boshin War of 1868–1869 through the First Indochina War of 1946–1954.[1] The shrine's purpose has been expanded over the years to include those who died in the wars involving Japan spanning from the entire Meiji and Taishō periods, and the earlier part of the Shōwa period.[2]"

You omitted the fact that the fourteen most prominent Class A war criminals, which included the prime ministers and top generals from the war era, were forwarded to the shrine in 1966, and the shrine passed a resolution to enshrine these individuals in 1970.

The issue with visiting Yasukuni shrine is that they have war criminals enshrined there.

It was never a problem until they did that.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

So were every leaders of nations which engaged in whatever wars.

That makes it okay then. Also, Japan was clearly the aggressor.

Appreciate if you could stop making up your own dramatical scenario here at public discussion board

The horrid conditions in Manchuria's wartime factories are well documented. Nothing made up about what I wrote.

-10 ( +12 / -22 )

@quercetum,

'Visit the museum,worthwhile.'

Yeah,if you want a totally one-sided,blinkered version of history written up by revisionists.

The modern Japanese are rightly horrified at what Russia is doing to Ukraine while at the same time being totally oblivious to the fact that what Russia is doing mirrors what their own country did to China,South Korea,etc.

This is what happens when a one-party state,in this case Japan,rewrites what happened years ago.

-10 ( +11 / -21 )

True. Actually, his grandfather, whom he seems to look up to, was the one who sent Japanese soldiers to die in the war and Chinese and Korean workers to die in factories.

So were every leaders of nations which engaged in whatever wars.

and Chinese and Korean workers to die in factories.

Appreciate if you could stop making up your own dramatical scenario here at public discussion board

-3 ( +16 / -19 )

If anyone bothers to research what Abe's grandfather and his military buddies got up to both before and during the war, and then after the war after being reinstated to power by the US, they'd understand why it continues to cause such a furor, and would also have insight into why Abe et al have put such effort into revising history books...a small example is given in the comments of the comfort women article, which is probably why the comments have been disabled.

2 ( +16 / -14 )

You do know why 95% of posters here call them Dinosaurs?

Yes, they are Dinosaurs and they are old men. In a few years they will all be dead, so is it really important what these has-beens do.

-15 ( +4 / -19 )

Yasukuni Shrine is private but the de facto national cemetery. There are new cherry trees with varieties from various prefectures planted. Visit the museum if you haven't had a chance. Worthwhile.

4 ( +17 / -13 )

Abe has no shame.

He doesn't even have the decency to wear one of his own masks.

The sooner there silver-spooned,backward looking clods are put out to pasture the sooner Japan can become the modern forward looking country we all know it is capable of being.

Abe is the epitome of everything that is wrong with Japan.

-7 ( +13 / -20 )

i am-speechless.why someone cant learn about own mistakes from past?at least now!

Learning from the past is never the objective for nationalists. What they work on is to rewrite the past to create myths, for whatever purpose. If there is a "lesson" Japanese nationalists have learned from the war it's that they want to change the constitution which they see as an American imposition. Not defending the US here, but one has to be wildly deluded to think decades of post-war peace and prosperity were a "humiliation" while rampant militarism and mayhem around the Pacific were somehow glorious.

It is quite possible that many leaders have had family members who served and died in service to Japan and visiting them is entirely appropriate.

Abe doesn't.

True. Actually, his grandfather, whom he seems to look up to, was the one who sent Japanese soldiers to die in the war and Chinese and Korean workers to die in factories.

Apparently it's not just in America where people can't let go of the past.

Oh, these people are often very quick to tell you to "stop living in the past" if you bring up anything problematic about their heroes.

-11 ( +11 / -22 )

“The West has vested interests in recording Japan as the invading country so that they can justify their invasion of Asia. Crime against peace and crime against humanity are ex post fact laws, so that in the context of international law, there is no basis for accusing the Japan of a crime.”

 

Radhabinod Pal. An Indian jurist and a member of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and United Nation’s International Law Commission 

1 ( +20 / -19 )

Apparently it's not just in America where people can't let go of the past.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

Surprised @zichi 3:29pm? - Either a SIG or HK 9mm with 7-8 rounds plus 2 additional magazines. Left hand a expandable/retractable baton or microphone?

*- @zichi 3:29pm: “Is his security detail armed?” -*

0 ( +8 / -8 )

It's tradition to visit, why break a trend.

5 ( +15 / -10 )

At least have the spine and integrity to walk through the front door than lobbing a masakaki offering through an open side window.   

I find former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe behaviour shameless and cynical.

When in high office Abe san disingenuously, for his own political gain refused to stand head up and admit his revisionism.  

How is the next generation ever going to move on?

-7 ( +11 / -18 )

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Tokyo's top spokesman, said Kishida made the ritual offering "in a private capacity."

Then don't advertise that you made the offering. If its in a private capacity it shouldn't be news.

-11 ( +11 / -22 )

Cricky

These idiots know it’s offensive outside...

They think it is misunderstood and politically misused. So they will not stop visiting because doing so does not help correcting the misinformation.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

"Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 or 靖國神社, Yasukuni Jinja, lit. Peaceful Country) is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan from the Boshin War of 1868–1869 through the First Indochina War of 1946–1954.[1] The shrine's purpose has been expanded over the years to include those who died in the wars involving Japan spanning from the entire Meiji and Taishō periods, and the earlier part of the Shōwa period.[2]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasukuni_Shrine

I would call that a National shrine.

7 ( +22 / -15 )

i am-speechless.why someone cant learn about own mistakes from past?at least now!

You do know why 95% of posters here call them Dinosaurs?

since his bad tummy, Abe has been there numerous times. But Kishida is stirring the pot.

-9 ( +6 / -15 )

And in other Political news today, Apr 21, ‘22 - https://japantoday.com/category/politics/S-Korea's-incoming-foreign-minister-calls-2015-comfort-women-pact-official -

Seems they used to time this stuff better with the 記者クラブ.

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a ritual offering Thursday to Yasukuni

These idiots know it’s offensive outside

korean reaction coming in a minute...

Who cares about that anymore?

Look what happened in the Ukraine. All the mass murdering, raping young Girls, killing innocent men, women and children....

And then people complain that someone send offerings to a shrine?

That is a big Joke!

0 ( +23 / -23 )

Peter14Today  03:02 pm JST

Coming from a country that fought Japan, I have no issue with Japans leader visiting their national shrine for war dead.

Yasukuni is not a national shrine and politicians are required by the constitution not to undertake any religious observances in an official capacity. Yet there's Abe in a photo with his Diet member's pin on, flanked by men in suits who look like government employees on the clock. I have an issue with that.

It is quite possible that many leaders have had family members who served and died in service to Japan and visiting them is entirely appropriate.

Abe doesn't.

-4 ( +24 / -28 )

Coming from a country that fought Japan, I have no issue with Japans leader visiting their national shrine for war dead. Most nations have a national shrine and their leaders are expected to attend on certain days of the year. I can see that many feel different and are unable to see anything but a list of a number of war criminals while overlooking the millions of others who were simply doing their duty in the name of their country over a number of conflicts.

It is quite possible that many leaders have had family members who served and died in service to Japan and visiting them is entirely appropriate.

1 ( +25 / -24 )

These idiots know it’s offensive outside and controversially inside of Japanese boarders. Yet they continue the self defeating, whatever to prop up an imaginary sense of “spiritualism” and national pride that few swallow. That time is over it’s time to recognise yes your relatives committed heinous acts, trying to white wash it, not helping.

-10 ( +18 / -28 )

It's just a list. It's not like a shrine can control spirits

they added the Class A's to the list, they can be taken off too

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

Yeah, visit for all I care. But when Korea and China don't want to do business, don't come crying.

-8 ( +21 / -29 )

"great move".new guy walking in old shoes.

korean reaction coming in a minute...

just imagine that say german president will send flowers to some cemetery where some top nazis are buried.

i am-speechless.why someone cant learn about own mistakes from past?at least now!

-12 ( +21 / -33 )

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