Abe visits Yasukuni Shrine for 2nd straight month

Abe desperately trying to stay relevant?

Poor Abe, longest PM in Japan's history and essentially nothing to show for it. This lonely man takes solace from the legions of dead Japanese marched off to die in a futile war by his predecessors.

No need for tatemae. Boiler suit and black truck next?

Hoping maybe he'll end up there?

Well done! Former PM Abe is simply the G.O.A.T Greatest of all Time.

Well, no need to hold back anymore I guess. Going the other way, a total of four ex-Japanese prime ministers have visited a memorial hall in Nanjing, China that's dedicated to victims there of the 1937 massacre carried out by Japanese soldiers. The four are Hatoyama Yukio, Fukuda Yasuo, Murayama Tomiichi, and Kaifu Toshiki. Something tells me Abe doesn't plan on becoming the fifth to go there.

So what? He's a private citizen now.

He must have gone to pray for forgiveness from his war criminal grandfather for failing to change the constitution like he promised him he would do despite him being Japan’s longest serving PM.

Praying for forgiveness because he and Akie got blood on their hands from the Moritomo scandal.

Hope he wore his expensive mask.

Kind of ghoulish.

Desert TortoiseToday  07:51 am JST

Hoping maybe he'll end up there?

The only way to have your name end up there is to die in war. You really think that's what he (or anyone) wants?

SpitfireToday  08:37 am JST

He must have gone to pray for forgiveness from his war criminal grandfather

His grandfather was never charged, tried or convicted as a war criminal. Do you think it's correct to call him a war criminal?

Quote '' since stepping down as premier''

Does that count?

He waited until he left office. Not good enough?

He loves his country and the heroes who defended Japan. I don't agree with the 14 generals who got convinced to be burried at Yasukuni Shrine, but at the same time Japanese citizens, politicians and SDF members should have a right like every other country to pay respects to the war dead, to our heroes just like the ones who defended your own country.

Just because we lost the war it doesn't make our soldiers bad or less then your own soldiers! A lot of bias... And double standards!

Abe is a private citizen, he can go as often as he likes. He can even camp there if he wants and they allow it. Who cares?

The greatest respect you can pay to the war dead is to work for peace.

Well he’s a private citizen now and it’s a free country so....

He is still a paid politician, not a private citizen to be, but he would have to leave the Diet.

Doctor -shrine-doctor-shrine...

So many things to do...

why laid your own standard to a man's visitation freedom?

no seeing anything wrong doing.

It would be best if Japan could find a way to rehabilitate their war dead. It is sad that they cant be remembered for their service except for the atrocities they committed. They are husbands, fathers, son, brothers, uncles etc. Dont forget many paid the ultimate price for the crimes they committed during the war. But I guess the first step to forgiveness is to aplogise.

September 6, 1997: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said: "In 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Government of Japan expressed its resolution through the statement by the Prime Minister, which states that during a certain period in the past, Japan's conduct caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, including China, and the Prime Minister expressed his feeling of deep remorse and stated his heartfelt apology, while giving his word to make efforts for peace. I myself was one of the ministers who was involved in drafting this statement. I would like to repeat that this is the official position of the Government of Japan. During the summit meeting that I had during my visit to China, I have made this point very clear in a frank manner to the Chinese side. Premier Li Peng said that he concurs completely with my remarks" (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Conference on: Visit of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to the People's Republic of China) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan#:~:text=September%206%2C%201997%3A%20Prime%20Minister,conduct%20caused%20tremendous%20damage%20and

Perhaps it is time to start using these souls who have already suffered twice (once when they committed these unspeakable acts and once when they were punished) for political football and to move on...

@Cricky you’re right. I meant he’s not PM anymore so who really cares what he does now? I’m not a fan of Yasukuni but in a free society people are entitled to their beliefs, good or bad.

He loves his country and the heroes who defended Japan. I don't agree with the 14 generals who got convinced to be burried at Yasukuni Shrine, but at the same time Japanese citizens, politicians and SDF members should have a right like every other country to pay respects to the war dead, to our heroes just like the ones who defended your own country.

R&WN

Ok then WHY doesnt he go to Chidorigafuchi instead..........surely that is a GOOD place to pray for those who died for Japan.

I have no issue with people going to yasukuni, politicians I most certainly have an issue, because THEY go there for those secretly enshrined NOT the people that those same 14 sent to their deaths totally in vain.

Politicians can go to Chidorigafuchi, so ask yourself WHY dont, they I am sure the Emperor & his father could shed some light on this for you as well.

Is this “news”?

Former PM Abe is simply the G.O.A.T

I agree with you

He loves his country and the heroes who defended Japan.

?????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps these "heroes" did not know what they were doing (to err is human...etc.), but Japanese fascism and militarism cost MILLIONS their lives in Japan's imperialist wars of aggression. If Abe has a prayer, it should be for forgiveness.

Abe, a right wing, conservative, full of ambition & ego, dreamt of an imperial Japan, same as his War Criminal grandfather, attempting to re-establish the military with the same fevered dream as the criminals & butchers enshrined at Yasukuni. As PM his accomplishments are nil, having failed to act for the greater good and to enable the common people to prosper. Instead, his end all, the coronavirus, an economy in tatters, no viable plan for a sustainable economy, capped by a trip to Yasukuni Shrine. Abenomics based on the failed model of Reaganomics and dubbed by Stockman, who devised it, as fraudulent and doesn't work.

He fully & purposefully violates any manner of diplomacy by visiting a shrine that honors not war dead, but war criminals. It reflects his abject failures and the obvious tenor of his rule.

As long as he's not the PM, thank god, I don't care what he does.

Perhaps these "heroes" did not know what they were doing (to err is human...etc.), but Japanese fascism and militarism cost MILLIONS their lives in Japan's imperialist wars of aggression. If Abe has a prayer, it should be for forgiveness.

Correct. Estimates vary between 20-30million died during Japans aggression through the Far East & SE Asia.

Add on to that another 3-4million dead Japanese

All of the above caused by Imperial Japan, all the deaths utterly unnecessary.....Japans military, politicians & the ""elite"" OWE a huge apology to ALL the dead outlined above, and the world waits still to this day, meanwhile abe goes to yasukuni.....some NEVER LEARN!!!

Doesn't he have anything better to do?

Like play Mario 35?

Time for this man to get some hobbies. Or maybe a part time job.

He’s retired now. He’s allowed to do what he wants, and he’s doing it. Surely you aren’t all surprised by these visits. It’s his thing, always was.

ReasonandWisdomNipponOct. 20  09:37 am JST

...but at the same time Japanese citizens, politicians and SDF members should have a right like every other country to pay respects to the war dead...

They do. No one is denying that but it's only politicians who like making a big media song and dance about it. Why do you suppose that is?

Those politicians who pay a visit to Yasukuni Shrine regularly think soldiers enshrined there sacrificed their life for the country and so they insist they must thank them by visiting the Shrine on every occasion, suggesting that the post-war prosperity of Japan owes much to them. 

They claim the so-called war criminals enshrined there together with fallen soldiers weren’t war criminals but victims of a retaliatory Tokyo Tribunal.

Abe and other right winger politicians’ adamant, repeated visits to the Shrine must be viewed in this vein.

voiceofokinawaToday  06:33 am JST

Those politicians who pay a visit to Yasukuni Shrine regularly think soldiers enshrined there sacrificed their life for the country and so they insist they must thank them by visiting the Shrine on every occasion, suggesting that the post-war prosperity of Japan owes much to them. 

They claim the so-called war criminals enshrined there together with fallen soldiers weren’t war criminals but victims of a retaliatory Tokyo Tribunal.

Abe and other right winger politicians’ adamant, repeated visits to the Shrine must be viewed in this vein.

I don't think they really believe in any of that stuff but they know it goes down well with right-wing constituents who do.

NihonviewOct. 20  08:12 am JST

Well done! Former PM Abe is simply the G.O.A.T Greatest of all Time.

hahahha thanks I needed a laugh!

NihonviewOct. 20  08:12 am JST

Well done! Former PM Abe is simply the G.O.A.T Greatest of all Time.

Greatest what? A few ideas spring to mind but I think my comment would get deleted if I posted them.

He’s retired now. He’s allowed to do what he wants, and he’s doing it.

He isn't retired. He's still a Diet member and receives a salary, which means he isn't a private citizen.

CrickyOct. 20  10:11 am JST

He is still a paid politician, not a private citizen to be, but he would have to leave the Diet.

Being a politician(public servant) and a private citizen are not mutually exclusive. While he may function as a politician in the legislature, outside of his official functions he can and is acting as a private citizen.

Abe suddenly resigned from the Prime Minister’s office, saying he had a health problem. But he has visited Yasukuni Shrine twice since his resignation. One must assume then that there might have been some serious reasons other than the health problem for which he had to resign.

Oh, incidentally, his resignation from premiership doesn’t mean he relinquished the membership of the Diet. He’s still a bon-a-fide lawmaker, retaining a seat in the Diet, as Alfie Noakes says.

Abe also met with the newly-installed Prime Miniser Yoshihide Suga, who briefed him on the current state of affairs after he left the office.