Abe's wife visits Yasukuni shrine

“What was in their minds when they perished on the battlefields?”

More pertinently, what was going through the minds of the idiots who sent them there?

Let's put aside the seriously bad timing for a second and just ponder why, a woman in her position as the First Lady of Japan, thought making the visit was a good idea? Glorifying what Japan did in WW2 is a disgusting kick in the face to the real victims, most of whom are still emotionally torn from Abe's speech last week.

If it's in a private capacity it's o one's business but her own.

Given her position, it's unfathomable that she did this without the knowledge and consent of the PM and his office. It's more of a carefully orchestrated nod to Abe's right-wing supporters that, while he says one thing, this is where his heart is.

Abe has consistently said one thing while having his administration move in the opposite direction, whether it's regarding building up of the military, media freedom, war responsibility, etc. .

@descendant

I'm never gunna believe she did it without the knowledge and consent of her husband. He most likely cannot or would not dare upset everyone even more this week as he just made a nice full of crap speech about peace. She went IN HIS PLACE. I have no doubt he sent her there.

If it's in a private capacity it's o one's business but her own.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife Akie on Tuesday visited Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo. Abe posted about the visit on her Facebook page, and included photos.

obviously its not in a private capacity.

It is damn obvious she went there in his place.

Why even pretend to do apologies anymore?

Whatever happens, the Abes have got to make sure their buddies in the Nippon Kaigi know their apology wasn't serious.

Akie's visit to Yasukuni comes just days after Prime Minister Abe made a ritual offering to the shrine, which was just one day after his 'conciliatory' statement marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender. Actions speak louder than words.

Aly Rustom

A wife of a political only has private capacity since she is not an elected official. Just becuase it's being taken up by the news doesn't make it official business.

Triring

We are not talking about the news. SHE POSTED IT ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA. If it was in a private capacity, she would have gone quietly and offered prayers and that's it.

Who cares yasakuni shrine is a slap in the face to every foreign soldier that fought against Japan And these right wing nutters don't have enough balls to go themselves so they send their wives in their stead typical Japan always talking out of the side of their mouths remember Japan was the victim(major sarcasm)

Way to go Japan!!! N O T!!!!

Hey I like many KNEW abe was lying his a$$ off with that BS of a speech, but even I am surprised its been totally flushed down the crapper so quickly!!

Clearly abe's speech was totally & utterly void of any sincerity, honesty, of anything good, proper......

This is so so disgusting, Japan seems determined to destroy itself economically & perhaps by some more horrible means....

Once again the govt shows total utter distain for ALL of the people living in Japan & that includes us gaijin.

This is pretty insane, no other way to describe this stuff, words fail me

It doesn't matter that she did it in a private capacity or that she is not an elected official. Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife Akie on Tuesday visited Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo.

Obviously he sent her, because he was told by the US not to go himself. He probably thinks he can get around it by sending his wife. She probably has one of those go-pro cameras attached so he can have a "virtual" visit to the shrine. Of course we are all meant to remember the atom bombs, but forget Japan's victims

Classic example of shifting goalposts by the naysayers.

August 1985- PM should not visit Yasukuni (despite 20 plus visits by PM's prior to the enshrinnent of so called class A)

Around 2007, no cabinet members should visit.

And now, 2015. No wife of PM should visit.

If it's in a private capacity it's o one's business but her own.

What difference does that make? Every single visit by a Prime Minister to the shrine has also been in their capacity as a private citizen. There is no law requiring the Prime Minister to visit to the shrine.

She's definetly a public figure, she bills the tax payer for security wherever she goes and she is more than willing to be in the spotlight and travelling around the world representing Japan when it suits her. I don't see why this more disgraceful aspect of her life should be off limits or beyond criticism.

Politically, Prime Minster Abe and First Lady Akie are joined at the hip.

Any pretense of reconciliation within Abe WWII statement is rapidly evaporating in acts that present cynical sleight of hand political pandering to the rabid revisionists.

Akie actions are to mollycoddle the eleven of his nineteen member Cabinet, active members of a parliamentary association hell bent on rewriting high school history textbooks to remove any negative references to the role Imperialist Japan government played in World War II. Diplomatically one step froward follow be two steps back.

Abe's wife visits Yasukuni shrine

Abe Sends Wife to Visit Yasukuni Shrine....(There I fixed it for ya!)

Let's put aside the seriously bad timing for a second.

Bad timing? When was it ever good timing to go to Yasukuni for China and Korea?

Not just them, but all of Japan's WW2 victims, whose memory the enshrinement of these 14 war criminals offends

We are not talking about the news. SHE POSTED IT ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO?

If it was in a private capacity, she would have gone quietly and offered prayers and that's it.

So when ever you post on social media it's public business? Don't think so.

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

This an't Rome and Abe is not Ceasar. By the way suspicion on what exactly?

Abe is not going simply because he does not want to arouse the crowd, not because there is a law that binds him from going on his private capacity. This whole the PM can't go is purely and utterly B$.

Perhaps First Lady Akie can on reflection after visiting Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots. The tragic consequences surrounding, First Lieutenant Hajime Fujii, an instructor at Kumagaya Army Aviation School, and his family are vivid and graphic.

Fujii, with a motto that "words and deeds should be consistent," was strict with himself and volunteered for the special attack force

http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/kamikaze/stories/fujii/

For me politics aside i wish ordinary citizens would call these people out when they do this but hey this is japan where the revisionists have already won because nobody in this country gives adamn

Abe is not going simply because he does not want to arouse the crowd, not because there is a law that binds him from going on his private capacity. This whole the PM can't go is purely and utterly B$.

Who said the PM can't go? Oh and if he really doesnt want to arouse the crowd, why send his wife, or for that matter, send money, as he did himself. All this after wanting to sound sincere in his recent speech.

He is telling the world "FU" by his actions!

Regardless of the smoke screen of "done in my private capacity" line of bull that politicians often do around here, the basic fact is that after a certain level, EVERYTHING carries political weight.

Regardless if she is elected or not, she is the "first lady" of Japan. That carries weight, official or unofficial.

This is a fact known and accepted by political figures world wide, except for some reason in Japan.

Correction.

August 1985- PM should not visit Yasukuni (despite 20 plus visits by PM's prior to the enshrinnent of so called class A)

August 1985- PM should not visit Yasukuni (despite 20 plus visits by PM's AFTER the enshrinnent of so called class A)

Who said the PM can't go?

Article 20 of the Constitution states that No religious organization shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political authority. No person shall be compelled to take part in any religious act, celebration, rite or practice and Article 89 that No public money or other property shall be expended or appropriated for the use, benefit or maintenance of any religious institution or association, or for any charitable, educational or benevolent enterprises not under the control of public authority

Some people interpret this to mean that the Constitution prohibits the PM or any other politician from visiting any shrine, including Yasukuni, in an official capacity or from making a donation; and from using publicly-funded transportation, security services, etc., to visit in a 'private' capacity.

Then again, some other people interpret the Constitution in such a way that lets Article 9 (the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes) allow for a Japanese military to take part in American wars.

She's actually in the perfect position to make the shrine visits. The opposition will look like bullies for attacking a "private citizen" but her status allows her to make obvious political displays to their supporters on the right. This is basically her saying, "I know my husband said some things in his speech, but don't worry, this is where we really stand."

Honestly, it wouldn't be as bad if they made visits to China or Korea every once in a while to balance things out. But for a country that claims to acknowledge their past "aggression" and feel "deep remorse" toward toward their victims, they sure seem to care only about their own.

So what!

Article 20 of the Constitution states that No religious organization shall receive any privileges from the State, nor exercise any political authority. No person shall be compelled to take part in any religious act, celebration, rite or practice and Article 89 that No public money or other property shall be expended or appropriated for the use, benefit or maintenance of any religious institution or association, or for any charitable, educational or benevolent enterprises not under the control of public authority

This only means no public fund will be situated for any religeous organization. Once Abe and/or any other public officials had donated out of their own private pocket within their private capacity it is fine since the money used is what they earned and is their private asset.

Honestly, it wouldn't be as bad if they made visits to China or Korea every once in a while to balance things out. But for a country that claims to acknowledge their past "aggression" and feel "deep remorse" toward toward their victims, they sure seem to care only about their own.

Precisely

but hey this is japan where the revisionists have already won because nobody in this country gives adamn

Exactly

She may as well have signed the register "Mrs. Prime MInister Abe - 4THELOLZ".

the main reason its so controversial is because of the Head priest in 1978 decided to include the class A war criminals, it was purely a political and Ideological and nothing to do with the religion itself.

A Head Priest’s Ideological Agenda, Matsudaira Nagayoshi

The impasse continued until Tsukuba’s sudden death in March 1978. Matsudaira Nagayoshi (1915–2005) was installed as head priest in July that year. It is worth going over Matsudaira Nagayoshi’s background. His grandfather, Matsudaira Yoshinaga (1828–90), was the feudal lord of the Fukui domain. In the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate, Yoshinaga called for a merger of the shogunate and the imperial court. After the shogunate fell, he was granted a position inside the new Meiji government. Matsudaira’s father, Yoshitami (1882–1948), was the last minister of the Imperial Household. Matsudaira himself was a lieutenant commander in the Imperial Navy during World War II and an officer in the Self-Defense Forces after World War II. His father-in-law, Daigo Tadashige, was a vice admiral in the Imperial Navy. He was tried by the Dutch after the war, convicted of Class B and C war crimes, and executed by rifle shot. He is listed among the war dead honored at Yasukuni Shrine.(6) Matsudaira unequivocally rejected the verdict of the tribunal and argued that the Tokyo Trials had produced a distorted view of history that cast Japan as the sole villain. He was determined from the outset to enshrine Japan’s Class A war criminals at Yasukuni. This was part of an ideological crusade to discredit the Tokyo Trials. Once appointed, he moved quickly. In a secret ceremony on October 17, 1978—just three months after becoming head priest—he enshrined all 14, including Matsuoka and Nagano.(7) When the story broke in April the following year, the public reaction was relatively muted. But controversy erupted with a vengeance six years later, when Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro became the first postwar prime minister to pay homage at the shrine in an official capacity. When Nakasone and his cabinet visited Yasukuni on August 15, 1985 to mark the fortieth anniversary of the end of World War II, the visit unleashed a storm of criticism from Japan’s Asian neighbors. The next year Nakasone agreed not to visit the shrine in deference to the views of Chinese leader Hu Yaobang. From that time on, visits by cabinet officials to Yasukuni Shrine have been a hot-button issue, drawing intense criticism from abroad and stymying diplomatic progress between Japan and its neighbors. The ultimate source of this ongoing conflict was the enshrinement of Class A war criminals in 1978. And the enshrinement of this group cannot be attributed simply to religious or filial impulses. In fact, it was a blatantly ideological and political act driven by an urge to justify and legitimize a highly controversial chapter in Japanese history.

Repulsive - an "advanced"country boasting best etiquettes yet Japan gives no thoughts to the up to 50 million victims of sadistic Japanese soldiers and pilots but worships the feelings of these killers/rapists and whitewashes its crimes-against-humanity. Shouldn't these Jpn leaders first pay respects to the tens of millions of victims of Japan's war of aggression first (and build a monument for this purpose) like Germany does every year?

People should learn from history that it will come back to you if you keep bashing too much a country who has been apologizing many many times

cleo, how do you pray for souls without religious connotation? You are being ridiculous. Japan top court ruled that it is not against constitution for govt members to go to Yasukuni.

Last time I checked, Japan is a democratic country. However, the government members don't act like it. Sad thing is that more than half of their citizens disapprove of cabinet members going to Yasukuni. In a democratic system, citizens of Japan should put in a ballet and let them vote to see if they want to allow or ban government officials visiting Yasukuni. Let people decide.

Imagine if President Obama sent the first lady to the National Air and Space Museum to pay respects to the "Anola Gay" and her crew, on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. Can you imagine the outrage in Japan, this is basically what the Koreans and Chinese feel about the Yasukuni shrine visits.

"Yasukuni shrine honors Japan’s fallen soldiers, but also several Class A war criminals convicted and executed after the conflict."

When are they going to stop honoring the Class A war criminals? This is a major cause of Korean and Chinese ire.

To TinaWatanabe:

Seriously?

No, it will come back to Japan who keeps whitewashing its crimes. And what real and long lasting apologies?, you mean the ones Abe now is diluting and making meaningless? If Japan was truly sorry, where is the monument for the victims of Japan's crimes against humanity? I see only the repulsive Yasukuni (where Jpn leaders worship Jpn soldier killers but no respects are paid to the Chinese/Korean/Asian tens of millions of victims), and I see only the self-focused Hiroshima / Nagasaki monuments etc.

Perhaps you should consider Germany's fine example instead first...

massiou81

Nope the Emperor's last vist was 1975, three years prior to the addition of names.

Even Emperor Showa (Hirohito himself) stopped visiting Yasukuni from 1978, the exact year when the 14 A-class criminals were enshrined. His son the current emperor (to whom I have much respect) never went there as well

exactly it was the Ideological political Agenda of Matsudaira Nagayoshi the head preist at the time that has ruined the image of the shrine and that it is more a political and not religious group, very sad actually

Nope the Emperor's last vist was 1975, three years prior to the addition of names and yet no emperor has visited since. shows you that the emperor himself views the shrine as a political and not religious group.

People should learn from history...

It's Abe and friends that should study history. The true history accepted by the rest of the world.

if you keep bashing too much a country

Bashing short-sighted leaders isn't the same as bashing the entire country.

apologizing many many times

Some heartfelt apologies, followed by denouncements of said apologies, followed by half-hearted forced apologies, followed by many many actions that show lack of true remorse.

cleo, how do you pray for souls without religious connotation?

That's not the point she's making at all.

Japan top court ruled that it is not against constitution for govt members to go to Yasukuni.

No one said they don't have the right. It's just not a smart move and shows a real disrespect toward Japan's neighbors. It also keeps this whole issue from being put to rest, and invites the constant "bashing" you're so sensitive to.

shows you that the emperor himself views the shrine as a political and not religious group

Complete disruption in logic. Why does the Emperor's ending the shrine three years prior to the inclusion of the so called A-class criminal has anything related to politics? Defies reason.

Why does the Emperor's ending the shrine three years prior to the inclusion of the so called A-class criminal has anything related to politics? Defies reason. hes pointing out that the Political views of the head priest in 1978 that enshrined the convicted class A war criminals (nothing "so called" about it) made the shrine into a political tool instead of a religious one. Since the emperor is barred from expressing his political views, his absence from the shrine is understandable. The logic/reason is very clear if your not blinded to your own personal views about the shrine and Japans waretime aggression

Within your posting you're suggesting that it changed with the change the head priest in 1978 that is still three years after the last visit by the emperor. Complete disruption within your own logic.

She's stupid.

It's Abe and friends that should study history. The true history accepted by the rest of the world.

Precisely

Complete disruption within your own logic. what is so hard to understand, read my post about the Matsudaira Nagayoshi the head priest who enshrined the class A war criminals only three months after taking the position. Why is it that the current emperor has never visited Yasukuni but has paid respects to Japanese that died in WW2 at other locations throughout Japan. If you cant understand the logic then Im sorry you probably never will.

Why is it that the current emperor has never visited Yasukuni but has paid respects to Japanese that died in WW2 at other locations throughout Japan. If you cant understand the logic then Im sorry you probably never will.

You're deflecting the question at hand which is Hirohito last visit was 1975. Your hypothsis is that it became a political pressure group in 1978 that is why the Emperor has not visited since in which case the numbers don't add up.

i think finally japan has a true leader of strength and character, perhaps china and america could take lessons from abe . you cannot rule from a position of apologist weakness.

She's stupid.

That's a very mild way of putting it. Certainly her visit has just undone whatever "good" that Mr Abe's diluted anniversary speech did

So is Mrs Abe the P'M's mine canary, flying into places he dare not go himself? Her feelings are twaddle, and I think she is smart enough to know it. Japan's former victims were less than impressed with his non apology and this is the icing on the cake.

It may be a private visit but she is certainly a public figure and needs to act with a little more consideration if not for her husband then Japan.

that is why the Emperor has not visited since in which case the numbers don't add up

and your deflecting is the best on this post , why hasnt the emperor ever visited Yasukuni but has visted many other WW2 memorial locations throughout Japan. while only political leaders have visited Yasukuni!? man if you cant see a pattern then im afraid your nationalistic color blind. priest Matsudaira Nagayoshi and Japanese beaurocrats have done a great job in making Yasukuni a greater political tool than the religious one it was meant to be

People did not say anything before about this shrine. China/SK started intensified Japan bashing and English papers covering, people other than China/SK also started criticizing Japan, which tells your level of education. it does not matter what college you went to, you are not really educated if you are so easily influenced by media.

tinawatanabeAUG. 19, 2015 - 04:55PM JST People did not say anything before about this shrine. China/SK started intensified Japan bashing and English papers covering, people other than China/SK also started criticizing Japan, which tells your level of education. it does not matter what college you went to, you are not really educated if you are so easily influenced by media.

You say the same thing every time it gets very redundant. Say something new for once. And as for Abe, hardly surprising move.

Next news....

"Abe's uncle visits Yasukuni"... the internet explodes. then

"Abe's, third cousin's friend's neighbor, visits Yasukuni".. the internet burns.

"Abe's resurrected dog soul's visits Yasukuni"... China in enraged

and so on

Smithinjapan

For the first time, EVER (!!!) I have to agree with ya.

She's not an officer of the State therefore can do WHATEVER she likes.

Even if JT "experts" object to it; actually she should go just to piss such "experts” off.

wtfjapanAug. 19, 2015 - 04:41PM JST

Deflecting?

It's you're pet theory not mine. How should I know why Emperor Akihito had not gone to Yasukuni. One point those although the Emperor had not gone his family had visited several times and has sent imperial envoys to deliver his blessings.

I prefer her riding in a car with drag queens during the gay pride parade, which she did last year.

Not just them, but all of Japan's WW2 victims, whose memory the enshrinement of these 14 war criminals offends

So anyone who goes there does so to venerate the war criminals? Yes? Not the countless others enshrined there? ONLY the war criminals? Wow... you must be a mind reader... seeing into the minds of every visitor.

When the United States apologized for the murder of hundred of thousands of civilians, mostly women and children during the Atom bombs and fire-bombings AFTER the war had already been won....and the massive looting and rapes during the occupation then we have room to whine about Japan paying homage to their war dead the same was do we even though no American has ever had to face trial for war crimes. and there were a lot of them....in the Second World War, Korea (I saw a couple) and Viet Nam some of which were finally reported ....the United States claims the high ground but really .....Mrs. Abe visited Yasukuni, is that any worse than the American First Lady visiting Arlington?

Some of the War Criminals who were never charged are buried there.

It may be a private visit but she is certainly a public figure and needs to act with a little more consideration if not for her husband then Japan.

If you're the PM's wife, you know that nothing done in public is private, no matter what you or others might claim. It's part of the job.

Why apologize, when you send someone else to represent you, to pay respect to war criminals.

Japan government and PM Abe are such a hypocrite.

When are they going to stop honoring the Class A war criminals? This is a major cause of Korean and Chinese ire.

Never, as according to Japanese law of the time these men were not convicted by Japanese law, of any crime and are not seen as being war criminals. It's just another foreign thing being tossed against them.

Buttheads that they are. Everything Abe preached about in his speech goes down the toilet after this and his sending a monetary offering to the shrine.

"If you're the PM's wife, you know that nothing done in public is private, no matter what you or others might claim. It's part of the job."

And exactly since when marrying the Prime-Minister is "part of the job"????

She's is NOT a public figure, no matter how you guys try to twist it.

Public figure, i.e. somebody famous because of what they do; don't think marrying the Prime-Minister got her qualified.

She's a private citizen and free to exercise her democratic rights. Even free to piss off lots of malcontents in the process if she so chooses.

This is democracy; was under the impression that you guys always berate Japain for not having democracy.

PM Abe is an enigma, indeed. I'm certain his wife went there in his place because he wants to appeal to his ultra-conservative buddies. Any progress made in patching up relations with his Pan-Asian neighbors has probably been undone.

sighclopsAug. 19, 2015 - 11:15AM JST Let's put aside the seriously bad timing for a second and just ponder why, a woman in her position as the First Lady of >Japan, thought making the visit was a good idea? Glorifying what Japan did in WW2 is a disgusting kick in the face to the >real victims, most of whom are still emotionally torn from Abe's speech last week.

I have visited the shrine twice, never to "glorify war" or "pray for war criminals". And certainly the countless people both Japanese and foreign who visit are not either, This ridiculous "glorifying war" nonsense is offensive, a disgusting kick in the face, especially to people who may have lost family members to war.

When are they going to stop honoring the Class A war criminals? This is a major cause of Korean and Chinese ire.

Another one? When are people going to get it into their heads that there are more than just a handful of war criminals enshrined there? It's for ALL of those who lost their lives in WW2, not just class A war criminals.

If I go to my grandmother's grave am I visiting the other people interred in the cemetery?

It's for ALL of those who lost their lives in WW2, not just class A war criminals. -

No it's not, it's for those who died in service to the emperor. ALL lives would have to include about 6 million others as well!

Nigelboy, give us a break. You are not that dumb, and we all know it. You know damn good and well what this was. This was Abe reassuring Nippon Kaigi that he's not flipping on them. That he, in his position as Prime Minister, simply cannot say what he actually thinks because it would set the whole damned world off and he knows it.

Huh? Talk about going off tangent and completely ignoring my post where the naysayers have shifted goal posts. Again, not a single complaint about PM's visiting Yasukuni from 1979 (when the enshrinement of so called class A became public knowledge) to 1985 covering 20 visits.

Triring is absolutely correct in his/her assessment that the Emperor's visit became controversial in 1975 when the Socialist Party, the largest opposition party at that time, made a big stink about it during the Diet session.

The shrine now lists the names, origins, birthdates, and places of death of 2,466,532 men, women and children, including 1,068 war criminals; 14 of whom are considered A-Class, leading to controversies. The Honden shrine commemorates anyone who died on behalf of the empire, including not only soldiers, relief workers, factory workers, and other citizens, but also those not of Japanese ethnicity such as Taiwanese and Koreans who served Japan.

So not just Imperial Forces, but civilians and children. Also...

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 period, and lesser part of the Shōwa period.

So not even just WW2.

As I said before a few days ago:

"Yasukini Shrine visit in 3...2..1..."

Now go downvote me again.

TriringAug. 19, 2015 - 02:51PM JST

-10

Complete disruption in logic. Why does the Emperor's ending the shrine three years prior to the inclusion of the so called A-class criminal has anything related to politics? Defies reason.

10 thumbs down?

Looks as if I really stepped on the nay sayer's tail. LoL

Blind propaganda followers and conspiracy theorists really hate fact, don't they.

Thus making all apology meaningless. Sigh

Japan can never be taken seriously unless the Class A, B and C's are listed in a different shrine or another non war criminal shrine is used.

One point those although the Emperor had not gone his family had visited several times and has sent imperial envoys to deliver his blessings. ok show me some dates/times/stories about it then, didnt the emperor and even his son the prince just recently indirectly criticise Abe and his beaurocrats of ignoring the lessons of WW2! If you cant or refuse to see the shrine has been used as a political tool more so than a religious one then you may as well leave JT as the other posters are just wasting there time answering your corrupted nationalistic dribble. Maybe manning the speakers on those black trucks is your best way at getting your words heard, if theres anybody willing to listen

sir; What Mrs Abe does in her own time--is no one business !

She's stupid. [gogogo states]

Not sure about that, but a poor decision it was.

Remind you, she does not obey her husband and created Domestic Opposition Party. She is Morinaga child but the company did not employ her because she was not a man, she got a radio show business in Yamaguchi Ken where traditionally wives bossed husbands, Abe was from there. She probably loves to visit Korea as she is the fan some say expert critic) of Korean stage arts. About donation to shrine or whatever, as she inherited Morinaga fortune that what she spend is not from her husband's paycheck. She is richer than J govt. Accuser of her visit in Chiran, Have you ever read their Sayonara letters to their families?

Some people have been writing HER POSITION. She has no position in Japanese Govt. Wives are just wives in Japanese society unless they become elected politicians or worked up corporation ladder.

i think finally japan has a true leader of strength and character, perhaps china and america could take lessons from abe . you cannot rule from a position of apologist weakness.

It takes way more strength, courage and honor to admit the fast and sincerely apologize then whatever the heck Abe, his wife and Japan government is doing right now.

She is breaking Japan's tradition of women in Japanese society. Years ago, some women began to be elected politicians. If they were single, they belonged to their fathers. PM's wives, if their PM husbands had many mistresses they were blamed. time was changing. When PM Takeshita had female scandals, media restrained to bad mouth PM's wife. Time changed futhrer. PM''s wife behaves on her own this year.

Thank toshiko. That was an interesting comment.

@Serrano

When are they going to stop honoring the Class A war criminals?

When is the rest of the world going to get it into their heads that they are not "honoring" anyone?

Junichirō Koizumi a PM that seemly able to pop in and out of the Yasukuni shrine unnoticed, maybe due to his populist polite affable uncle persona. Sporting that user friendly cheeky chappie grin, Junichirō Koizumi was a sure fire vote winner. Junichirō Koizumi is the very definition of mediocrity in a expensive suit, reform or restructuring are words that Junichirō Koizumi word associate with architecture not the economy.

Chalk and cheese are words that spring to mind when comparing the Junichirō Koizumi and Shinzō Abe premierships, I huff and puff at Abe san, a humble opinion from a ordinary voter not a expert, because unlike Junichirō Koizumi, Shinzō Abe is the very definition of shrewd political expediency. Calculated and skilled in the art of taking most effective route in any particular political situation even if morally wrong, it is the overcoat of a statesman. First Lady Akie is the a perfect fit, that final missing piece of a 1000 word puzzle, fragrant and calm, my Mother worships the ground Akie walks on, a reason can First Lady Akie influences the masses.

It may feel like the height of rudeness and vulgarity to criticize the First Ladies intentions, but questioned all the same simply because the First Lady Akie can reach the nation conscience more effectively than her husband. First Lady Akie is no shrinking violet working on the behest of her Abe, a reason the first Ladies motivations must be challenged and criticized.

@itsonlyrocknroll

Thanks, and the most frighting part about that dark scenario that almost got written into history, would've been the fact that Yasukuni Shrine would've had thousands of more names to add to the Book of Souls.

As my first post indicates, the naysayers have been shifting goal posts since August of 1985 and are too ignorant to admit that they are doing it again with this current criticism.

Just to add, 昭和天皇実録 (Records of Showa Emperor) which was released last year confirms that the events that took place in 1975 was reason for his termination of the visits.

http://www.sankei.com/life/news/140909/lif1409090012-n1.html

　しかしその後、（１）日本基督教協議会ほか６団体による参拝中止の要望書（２）野党各党からの反対声明（３）日本社会党議員による国会への質問主意書－が出され議論を呼んだとし、「靖国神社への御参拝は、この度が最後となった」と記述した。

sir; What Mrs Abe does in her own time--is no one business !

Wrong answer. You think that if Mrs Obama went to a Westboro Christian Church for Sunday services that the press and media wouldnt be all over it?

She is the wife of the PM of a (cough-cough) leading country in the world, her actions, and what she says, in public, (Yasukuni is a public place) reflect on her husband and the country as a whole.

No politician, nor their spouses, or children, and to a certain extent other family members, are free from public scrutiny. It' all a part of the life.

Yasukuni is a private shrine as such it pays annual property tax and income statement to Goverment Tax Agency. Parks are example of public. Japan is not US possesion and there is no title for Akie. Mrs Obama has title, but no such title for Japanese PM'S WIFE. tHERE WAS NO SUCH AGENDA to create such title in Japan's history,

Religions in Japan are tax-exempted. One reason why the MA Shorinji Kempo declared itself a religion.

Yubaru

Wrong nation to site for.

Whether intentional or not the press is covering action of a private citizen. If the person has influnce to change the world that is within that person's own personal business and responsibility and not something within the official capacity of the related elected official. People needs to get it into their heads just because the person is related does not automatically place the person in a collective responsibility situation since that person was not elected.

Mrs Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine ? So what ? People of the USA, South Korea, China must respect custom and feelings of Japanese people. Period.

@iT;S E: SHRINES DO PAY TAX ON INCOME THAT ARE IBN BUSINESS NATURE, lOTTERY SuCH AS TOMIKUJI, TAKARAKUJI. One business they don't pay tax is when they rent their meeting halls as bakuchi-ba.

So anyone who goes there does so to venerate the war criminals?

In a word - yes. And if they go officially as a politician, they do so in the limelight. Yasukuni wasn't an issue before 1978, bue to the fact that 14 war criminals weren't enshrined there.

Nigelboy, for the record, I am not anti-Yasukuni in principle. In fact, I have a Yasukuni omomori in my pocket right now along with 2 ofuda in my house. As a U.S. Military vet, I consider myself duty bound to pay my respect to the myriad souls who died following orders, just like the military members of any country. I wholeheartedly believe that China and both Koreas use Yasukuni as a political sledgehammer and that anti-Japan propaganda is a central theme of their domestic politics. So you're preaching to the choir about moving goalposts.

So you are aware that the 7th fleet top brass as well as other nation's military top made their official visit as well. Good. Just for good measure, even South Korea's military attaché made an official visit in 2002.

So my question to you specifically is when has visiting Yasukuni became a symbol of "revisionist crap" that you alluded to? Don't disappoint me and say that you buy this "moving goal posts" that China and Korea came up (regurgitated by incompetent Western journalists who echo this nonsense) just recently. And lastly, can ANYONE explain to me how Japan was able to "get away" without ANY outside criticism of 20 visits by Japanese Prime Ministers between 1979(enshrinnent of so called class A became publicly known) to August of 1985? Sorry. 21 visits.

nigelboy AUG. 20, 2015 - 12:38PM JST So you are aware that the 7th fleet top brass as well as other nation's military top made their official visit as well. Good. Just for good measure, even South Korea's military attaché made an official visit in 2002. So my question to you specifically is when has visiting Yasukuni became a symbol of "revisionist crap" that you alluded to?

Is that best you can do? What don't you ask each one if they knew what Yasukuni meant to other Asian countries? They are clueless.

Is that best you can do? What don't you ask each one if they knew what Yasukuni meant to other Asian countries? They are clueless.

It's not the "best" but perhaps you can 'school' me by answering 'when?'

Christopher GlenAug. 20, 2015 - 12:34PM JST

Yasukuni wasn't an issue before 1978, bue to the fact that 14 war criminals weren't enshrined there.

Wrong it wan't an issue until 1985 when PRC made an issue about it although 6 years had pasted after the so call A-class war criminals that was enshrined a year earlier had became public knowledge.

Stop trying to move the post.

nigelboyAUG. 20, 2015 - 12:56PM JST It's not the "best" but perhaps you can 'school' me by answering 'when?'

Ask your 2000 plus Japanese companies operating inside China. They have much better relation ship than sitting on the couch.

Ask your 2000 plus Japanese companies operating inside China. They have much better relation ship than sitting on the couch.

I'm quite positive that they would ask the same thing when push comes to shove so why not make it easier by YOU answering 'when?'

Wrong it wan't an issue until 1985 when PRC made an issue about it although 6 years had pasted after the so call A-class war criminals that was enshrined a year earlier had became public knowledge.

The date people objected is irrelevant. They were objecting - and still are - to what took place in 1978. The enshrinement of war criminals. When Japan facilitated historical revisionism, then it started making a lot of people worried.

The date people objected is irrelevant. They were objecting

Here we have it again trying to move the post. The date is relevant since it clearly shows that the complaint was motivated from other then the actual event. Its basically the same as the claim over Senkaku isles in which Japan made the claim in 1895 in which PRC decided to complain more than 70 years after when reports suggests of natural resources may be deposited within the region.

The date is relevant

No

Talk about revisionist trying to rewrite history before our very eyes. HaHaHa

People needs to get it into their heads just because the person is related does not automatically place the person in a collective responsibility situation since that person was not elected.

Right, tell that to the many Japanese people who were in the spotlight and disappeared due to some failing of a spouse or child.

She isnt "just" related, she IS the first lady of Japan. She has a responsibility for her actions

The issue blew up in 1985 because that's when PM Nakasone paid an official visit.

Nations rely on news, too. And it's not like China was really open to the world in 1978.

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

On the fortieth anniversary of Japan's surrender, 15 August 1985, Nakasone and his Cabinet visited the Yasukuni Shrine in full morning dress. This had great symbolic significance as he visited the shrine in his official capacity and demonstrated that the Japanese government was reasserting its respect for the spirits of the ancestors killed in battle, including those who died in World War II. This was a controversial move and was criticised by the Chinese Communist Party's People's Daily.

People make a big deal out of Yasukuni visits now because they fundamentally distrust the group running this country, for very good reason, imho.

Yasukuni is 3 centuries old and the souls there are not influenced by who running this country.

kuruma - I meant 2, longer than Abe administration. You said this,

People make a big deal out of Yasukuni visits now because they fundamentally distrust the group running this country, for very good reason, imho.

Yasukuni is nothing to do with Abe administration. The souls are enshrined there. The souls are the reason people visits there.

The souls are enshrined there. The souls are the reason people visits there.

I do believe that some are brainwashed into thinking this way. Ever notice that when these politicians go visit some other shrine or temple there is no problem?

They go there fully knowing the political ramifications and do so thumbing their noses at the world. If any Japanese person is "closest" to the so-called gods, it's the Emperor, and he doesnt go to Yasukuni, because he KNOWS the ramifications regarding what would happen if he visited there.

It's BS to think it's about the souls.

Actions speak louder than words... You can apologize repeatedly, over & over, again & again...but if your actions do not change, your words become meaningless...with PM Abe wife paying respect to war criminals.

Japan government PM Abe can say a million sorry! it still mean nothing when action prove otherwise.

The goalpost has never moved from the start. It has always been that the Yasukuni shouldn't even exist and no-one go there. That has been the goal post from the start.

nigelboyAUG. 19, 2015 - 12:14PM JST Classic example of shifting goalposts by the naysayers.

August 1985- PM should not visit Yasukuni (despite 20 plus visits by PM's prior to the enshrinnent of so called class A)

Around 2007, no cabinet members should visit.

And now, 2015. No wife of PM should visit.

Nations rely on news, too. And it's not like China was really open to the world in 1978.

China already had an Embassy in Japan by 1973. They had full access to all the media in Japan.

It's BS to think it's about the souls.

It's BS for you but certainly not for the Japanese. Why do you think the Japanese go to shrines?

tina is right, A majority of JAPANESE like to give respect to soul. But in Japan, you can openly declare you are Atheist and you don't get criticized. (MushinRonSha.) shinto for festivals, Temples for funeral Church for Christmas

@chubbychub

But no one is "paying respect" to war criminals.

And - according to Shintoism - they are not war criminals any more either (... not that many were in the first place either).

I do wish the habitual critics would learn a little bit about Shintoism before dumping all the projections on what is happening.

Precisely

according to Shintoism - they are not war criminals any more either

According to man's law they are not war criminals either since they paid their due when they were executed. Under law once they had served the court's terms they are considered rehabilitated and a free man(sooul).

Basically bashing of these souls that had served their terms is no more then lynching out of grudge a person that fulfilled his/her sentence and really shows the person's civility.

According to man's law they are not war criminals either since they paid their due when they were executed. Under law once they had served the court's terms they are considered rehabilitated and a free man(sooul).

I usually stay away from these click bait issues. But that was a good point.

Basically bashing of these souls that had served their terms is no more then lynching out of grudge a person that fulfilled his/her sentence and really shows the person's civility.

The atom bombs excepted - Japan got off pretty lightly. Except for these token 14 names, the remaining war criminals were acquitted. The emperor wasn't even punished. If the U.S. had cleaned house properly in the postwar period Yasukuni shrine wouldn't even be an issue today. However their rabid fear of communism overrode their common sense - and Mrs Abe got to visit the shrine days after Mr Abe made a tatemae speech about "remorse"

rabid fear of communism?

Please go and ask some old Albanians, Bulgarians, Czechs, Slovakians, East Germans, Hungarians, Polish and Romanians if it lacked common sense.

Oh that fear extended towards any government or political group remotely left leaning. (As I'm sure many in South America can testify, or Greece for that matter) The U.S. re-empowered the Japanese right because it seemed like the best defence against communism. But it also means Japan is led by historical revisionists who - like Mrs Abe - think it's ok to go to Yasukuni shrine

@Christopher Glen

Japan is not led by "historical revisionists". You use the term so poorly that you devalue it.

In addition, like most people in the anti-Japan camp, your knowledge of Japanese history is so scant - because you cannot read sufficient Japanese and have not explore Japanese language sources - that you are hardly in a position to judge what is full and accurate history.

This entire "historical revisionist" strategy or meme is just another loan concept from the Holocaust Industry, as with the portrayal of anyone who questions the anti-Japan propaganda as being "right wing extremists".

It's all very silly and immature.

The Abes continue to jeopardise Japan's relations with their closest neighbours. What's so hard to get? Yasukuni enshrines over a thousand war criminals (i.e. murderers, torturers, rapists, vivisectionists, human traffickers), and paying respects there is an offensive gesture.

Japan is not led by "historical revisionists".

Yes, it is. What part of the following isn't revisionism? https://leejaywalker.wordpress.com/tag/ishihara-denies-the-rape-of-nanking/ http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/23/world/asia/china-nanjing-row/ http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201305270109 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/shinzo-abes-inability-to-face-history/2013/04/26/90f5549c-ae87-11e2-a986-eec837b1888b_story.html

The Abes continue to jeopardise east Asian relations with their policies

How many people lead Japan, "Christopher"? You much come from a country where power is centralized in the hands of a few.

"Revisionism", for you, appears to be anyone who questions the status quo and state propaganda. You remind me of the hectoring party member thought police of the cultural revolution in China. The anti-intellectual accusations you make are almost identical.

Do I think the Washington Post is a neutral source? Of course not. Do you get paid by the link to spam?

I looked at one link you posted regarding Hashimoto and his comments that "Japan did not abduct and traffic war time prostitutes".

That is technically accurate.

Neither Japan nor the did not abduct and traffic war time prostitutes. The supply of war time prostitutes was in the hand of the local brokers, mainly Koreans, who the army entered into contracts with.

It was the Koreans who committed the crimes and this is even documented in the historical record (Yoshiaki's "proof" the army was involved was actually proof that the army was concerned about abuses being carried out by the Korean pimps and brokers and warning officers to be on the look out for it. Fact).

So, no. Throwing about "bad words" borrowed from the Zionist Holocaust Industry like "historical revisionist" or "right wing" does work.

That's just part of the Chinese campaign. They studied how success it had been in achieving its political ambitions and borrowed from it.

Historical revision, especially of war time propaganda, is good. It is essential for our better understanding.

Same to an accurate understanding of Shintoism so a to better understand the purpose and nature of the Yasukuni.

Christopher GlenAug. 22, 2015 - 09:20AM JST The Abes continue to jeopardise east Asian relations with their policies

If that were true the United States, Australia, Philippines, Vietnam et al would not be supporting him. To the contrary China is the only country widely recognized as jeopardizing East Asian relations with their massive non-transparent military buildup and active territorial expansion program. This ridiculous anti-Japan program harping on WWII, which ended 3 years before China (PRC) even existed isn't fooling anybody.

I don't think Japan will ever create Japanese language title of First Lady (Dai Ichi Fujin) that means PM has at least one and/or or more ........ beside his legal wife. Thus Akie does not qualify to be called Dai Ichi Fujin.

Apple dos not fall far from the tree, in highly discipline society what the leader is thinking others should follow. Abe visiting Shrine is not desirable but should be respected.

Mr. NoidallAug. 21, 2015 - 08:52AM JST You know as well as the rest of the world does that these visits have absolutely nothing to do with praying for dead souls.

Have you ever been to the shrine? So many people everyday. If they are not there to pary for souls what for?

Would Akie Abe visit a war criminal / mass murderer in prison? I would suppose she wouldn't . So why does she feel the need to visit a shrine to pray for those spirits elevated to godhood？

make no mistake, she just also need some attention. it is the 70th anniversary, so why only for the PM or the emperor.. at least she, as a first lady, also do her part.

It doesn't matter if it's personal or official. Yasukuni is a bastion of revisionism where propaganda glorifying fascist Japan and fascist ideology takes center stage. It is a cancer of Japanese society and a source of international shame.

The Yasuni is a national memorial. It's a perfectly respectable and solemn shrine. The spread of cancer lies with the hate merchants who are seeking to divide Asia and turn the world against Japan.

I noticed this comment from September 28, 2007 at 10:33 PM

I even recognize one or two who spend the rest of their free time injecting nationalist propaganda into Korea-related articles on Wikipedia (e.g., the one who calls him/herself ...).

http://foreigndispatches.typepad.com/dispatches/2007/09/what-the-hell-i.html

My friend, that's 7 years ago and you are still doing it? Time to move on I think.

Maybe a Kpop group should make a song about WW2. Maybe then Mrs. Akie can start to know something before deciding to visit this shrine.