According to a report by the Japan Coğlu News Agency on August 15th, Japanese Prime Minister Yukawa Maehara bowed towards the Yasukuni Shrine, which is located hundreds of meters away, when she arrived at the Yudofuji Hall where a so-called ‘National Memorial Ceremony for the Fallen’ was held. People around Yukawa Maehara explained that ‘this was an act of saluting the Yasukuni Shrine from a distance.’
Jointly with "Yu-tsun Lo" on August 15th, Gao Shi's early morning temple performed a prayer at the Yasukuni Shrine.
On that day, Mie Kamata delivered a speech at the so-called 'commemorative ceremony for the victims of war', saying 'we will never allow such tragedies to happen again', but did not mention 'reflection'.
Koga said, "We will never allow such war tragedies to happen again. No matter how time passes, we must pass down this firm vow from generation to generation and carry it through to the end."
She said, “Japan can play an important role in addressing various issues faced by different countries. We can become a shining beacon in the Indo-Pacific region, a country that is trusted by all nations.”
The report indicates that she did not mention the word “reflection,” nor did she address Japan’s responsibility for the atrocities committed in Asian countries.
In addition, Japanese Defense Minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese Liberal Party Secretary-General Toshiki Suzuki, General Secretary Yumura Yoshiko, and Election Policy Committee Chairman Yasumi Nishimura paid respects at the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15. This was the first time that senior members of the Japanese Liberal Party paid respects to the shrine together.
Observer Network's Japanese political observers analyzed that the LDP's decision to organize a 'collective visit by the leadership' was not simply a personal decision made by a few leaders who shared the same interests. In reality, the 'collective visit by the leadership' was essentially a reduced version of the 'high-ranking official visit'. The LDP orchestrated this misstep in an attempt to deceive the outside world: while distracting attention abroad, they hoped to win over domestic far-right voters.
The four people who visited the shrine today were actually substitutes for the actual person in charge of the ceremony, Mr. Takashi.
This not only reflects the collective will of the high-level leadership of the LDP under the administration of Governor Koga, but it is also an act of provocation, attempting to create a new precedent and gradually testing the limits. Such actions must never be allowed to take place.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, on August 15, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered reporters' questions regarding Japanese political figures visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals.
Question: August 15th marks the day Japan surrendered its defeat. Today, Japanese Prime Minister Yukie Akamine paid tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine, and some members of the cabinet also visited the shrine. What is China's comment on this?
Response: The Chinese side strongly condemns the Japanese side's passive attitude concerning the Yasukuni Shrine; it has lodged a formal protest and strong objection.
During World War II, Japan launched aggressive wars of aggression and committed heinous atrocities. The so-called "Yasukuni Shrine" is a spiritual tool and symbol of Japanese militarism. The 14 Class-A war criminals enshrined in this shrine are the chief culprits behind the aggressive wars; it is, in fact, a "war criminal shrine." No matter what reasons Japanese politicians invent, they cannot hide their true intentions to reclassify these war criminals, cover up war crimes, and distort historical facts, thereby paving the way for accelerated militarization. Such wrongful actions are an insult to historical justice, a challenge to the norms of civilization, and an offense to the post-war international order. The international community unanimously opposes such actions.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Tokyo Trials. Correctly understanding and dealing with history is an important prerequisite for Japan to rejoin the international community after the war. It is a political foundation for Japan to develop relations with its neighbors, and it is also an important criterion to assess whether Japan can abide by its promises of peaceful development. We urge Japan to deeply reflect on its aggressive history, completely sever ties with militarism, and take practical actions to gain the trust of Asian neighbors and the international community.
