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© 2014 AFP3 women cabinet ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine
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© 2014 AFP
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unuepb
Why are these ministers making such political stunts? Are they so weak in their own merits that they had to resort to this? The fact that the women ministers do this more than men seems to indicate exactly the inferiority position of women in politics. Beating the nationalist drum is usually a sign of political desperation.
Simon Foston
You sound like you're looking forward to it. I wouldn't, given the mediocre job Abe is doing of running the country, and how disastrously Japan screwed up the last war they got involved in. But maybe it'll all work out okay if war enthusiasts like you are just as willing to take your chances on the front lines yourselves.
lachance
...And there will be rumors of war. Of course, there will be war. And these female ministers are representing Abe's government in honoring the war dead. Now, Abe expects China to media-attack these Japanese women who have advanced themselves in Japanese society? How clever.
The cowardly Chinese should know better than to assault Japanese women for honoring their dead? Aaaah, how clever Abe is to manipulate the Chinese into attacking the women who will keep the Japanese war industry operating while Japanese men don the uniform of the Emperor's armed forces.
Is there no end to Chinese stupidity?
Knox Harrington
Women or not is not really the issue. They are far right-wingers, first and foremost. That's why they are in the positions they are in.
nigelboy
Most civilized nations do. This is demonstrated by other nations except Korea and China. In regards to Yasukuni, if they don't like the lawmakers and PM going there, say so before signing the treaty or at least make it a pending issue which is holding up the signing. Don't go complaining several decades later when moneys are received. Don't go changing goal posts.
Not this lame argument again. The latter is for unidentified ashes, only while the former not includes the names. Also, what makes you so sure that a lawmaker doesn't visit both especially on August 15th?
What's amazing is that these ex pats equate IJA with Nazi because simply they were aligned and had lost the war.
toshiko
Advice to Japanese female Diet members, Never visit Yasukuni,. Never wear scarf, Keep eyes on how your support group spend your political funds or never have support group. Don;t forget you are female of Japan,,misogyny country. It took days but you guys will be finished sooner or later. Learn from these 5 female ministers fate, Don;t frogett medias are men dominated, too.
GW
I would have to seriously question their judgment to pick yasukuni for that when Chidorigafuchi is a MUCH better place for that, anyone who thinks politicians should put on a show at yasukuni clearly needs some history lessons.
Frankly the deafening silence from Japanese about yasukuni can only lead to one conclusion & that's that most Japanese are in favor of having war criminals there, THAT is downright scary.
It always amazes me how most Japanese GET what Nazi's did BUT remain utterly silent on what Japan DID!............. It aint working too well for Japan now is it, reap what you sow!
nath
If you really think signing a treaty provides immunity from any action in the future and forever that shows a lack of repentance, you are kidding yourself. If Japan had implemented measures to show repentance after signing the treaty, then they would be bulletproof against criticism. But the fact is that after signing the treaty, the have consistently shown that they don't truly repent for their actions, and thus face criticism. This is Japan's fault, not the fault of anyone else. Japan chose to invade the other countries, Japan lost the war, and Japan has been shown to have been in the wrong. If Japan wants to try to deny that, they will face criticism until the end of all time, and whining about such criticism will earn them no sympathy from anyone.
While it may be difficult to pin down exactly what 'proper repentance' is, it's quite easy to recognize that what Japan has done does not even remotely meet the level required to be proper repentance. And that doesn't take a 'proper' nation to recognize, it takes anyone who isn't a Japanese right-wing nationalist.
Guru29
Even though the Yasukuni shrine claims that it did promote some 2.5 million Japanese to become its member gods for dying to fulfill the wishes of its God, Emperor Hirohito to conquer the world, there is absolutely no point for any Japanese to visit the shrine if they do not believe in what the shrine preaches.
Why would any Japanese worship or pay their respect at the shrine if they don't even believe in the followings:
-The Yasukuni God, Emperor Hirohito, as descendant of the Sun Goddess is the ruler of both Heaven and earth.
-The Japanese are superior to all other men on earth and are destined to rule the world on behalf of Emperor Hirohito.
-Emperor Hirohito did somehow manage to capture the souls of the 2.5 million terrorists who died all over the world in his holy war and these souls are retained in the Yasukuni shrine to this day.
nigelboy
After signing a treaty that absolved those issues, the demand for more by reasoning of "never properly repented" sounds like an extortion for an only a "proper" nation can determine what "proper resentment" is.
nath
Yeah! Exactly! Curse them for having been invaded by a neighbor who has never properly repented and refuses to do show. They should learn.
nigelboy
They been doing it for years. For a period of time, Japan obliged. Tide's turning, of course. But let's think logically. The two that complains constantly aren't really your typical average nations that other nations would be influenced and as a result, sympathize with them. This is proven by Abe's meeting with pretty much every member of the U.N. who is seeking a future oriented relations.
I do feel sorry for Japan who have these neighbors with their Sinocentricism ideals still in place, though.
nath
Unfortunately for Japan, they don't get to determine what is or isn't an internal matter. That's determined by whether or not another country takes interest in that matter. And since going to Yasukuni irritates Japan's neighbours, it most definitely isn't an internal matter. Sorry, try again.
nigelboy
What if those "individuals" feels strongly that it's the lawmakers and leaders duty to pay respects to them? Like i stated in a related thread, this is strictly an internal matter for how a nation mourns, honors, or pay respects to their fallen soldiers is none of other nations business,PERIOD. To put it in a perspective you might understand, how would you feel if your former enemies starts to bitch year in and year out your celebration of Memorial and Veterans Day? The phrase, "none of your xxxxxxx business" is probably putting it politely, me thinks.
GW
WhiteS
Pay attention dude, people like myself who don't condone Nazi like worship DO NOT have any issue with individuals going to yasukuni to worship those close to them, totally fine with it!
Its the politicians who go to this god forsaken place to worship war criminals & who don't have the nads to admit Japans past, THAT is the problem, pretty simple really, just ask the Emperor!
Christopher Cronin
Shouldn't Japan militarize?(everybody else is doing it) Not into an ambitious invader, but this world is going to crud quick. It is just fine with me if they re-instill military pride too, I don't believe they will be jerks. Its been a long time.
canadianbento
This History, hopefully it won't happen again.. But the unfortunate thing is it has happened throughout History and is happening every day of year, just take a look at the Middle East. The Japanese know the "misdeeds" of the ist part of the 20th Century and have vowed never to do it again, but, just look at History, ie. Yesterday in the Middle East.
ArtistAtLarge
Well said taiga.
taiga_123
they should keep it up. history shouldn't be ignored simply because u think its disrespectful but u should recognize it and make sure everybody remembers the historic mistake so it never happens again.
ToshiYori
I just don't understand why politicians have to turn their visits into photo-ops when they visit the Yasukuni shrine. If they're truly sincere in paying homage to the dead, you'd think they would visit incognito, without all the press and TV hoopla. I'll bet they even provide news media the datetime of their shrine visit to ensure max publicity.
nigelboy
And yet the 'model' Germany can't get the seat, either. I think a lot of people who are interested know the reason "why" but as usual, both of you are waaay off the mark.
jerseyboy
GW -- spot on. And they'll continue to wonder why they don't get a permanent UNSC seat. Uh, duh!
OssanAmerica
Why McArthur? We don't give a hoot about some shrine. Those parties angry at Japan would want a Statue of Mao Tse Tung since according to PRC textbooks the Communist Chinese single handedly defeated Japan in WWII.
White_Shinobi
It is weird. If they dont pay homage... Then they disrespect the majority of the fallen who are buried there... If they pay homage, they disrespect other countries by the minority of war criminals who are buried there...
The majority/ minority of the people there are dead.
If I visited my father's grave and someone said I was wrong because of who was buried five spaces down... Ask me if I would care?
These other countries are making these small things national news... Then praise assassins who murdered Japanese officials.... Do their best to provoke some kind of response from Japan.
GW
Japan, Nazi type worship will do you no good!
Get rid of the SCUM somehow & then China & Korea wont have the ammo to hammer Japan! Hell then maybe even the EMPEROR & other royals will visit!
Until yasukuni cleans up the place Japan mortgages its own future, such a waste. Its painful to watch this gross utter stupidity year in year out, seems like Japan will never learn, too bad!
bjohnson23
Maybe all the parties angry at Japan would be much happier if the LDP placed a large statue of Gen McArthur signing the Surrender of Japan to the Allies overlooking the shrine, as a sign of putting things in the past to rest. Since the shrine now holds the war criminals what better way than to have the oversight looking at the defeat and serve as a reminder to everyone the ugliness of war. Everyone lost in the war, not just the Asian countries, but everyone.
pk
Unfortunately people like her, Abe, etc. know history all too well...their only regret seems to be is that they lost the war.
Serrano
On NHK News 7 Takaichi said she went to Yasukuni to pray for the souls who were trying to uphold the policies of the country. Well, at the time those souls passed from the living to the dead, the policies of the country were to subjugate much of Asia, not admirable policies. Did she not learn history?
edojin
Abe is among the few still missing from the hallways of Yasakuni this time around. Wonder if he'll show up ... and really tee off the Chinese & Koreans? Actually, I doubt it ...
keika1628
I don't have a voice nor a vote so could not give a toss