yasukuni

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Japanese foreign minister endorses imperial Japan's justification of the war of aggression

The Japanese foreign minister has made remarks endorsing the controversial Yasukuni Shrine's position of justifying the Japanese war of aggression during World War II.

Foreign Minister Aso Taro made the remarksin during an interview in a Bloomberg TV broadcast on November 21.

Asked by the interviewer about Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's remarks that he "does not support Yasukuni Shrine's view justifying the past war as a war in "self-defense," Aso stated:

"I have been to Yushukan museum several times, but I don't see in it anything that glorifies the war. In my mind the museum is just trying to relate the facts of those days. I don't think it is glorifying the war but just stating realistically."

Aso's statement contradicts Prime Minister Koizumi's view.

At a news conference after the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Pusan, South Korea on November 19, Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he does not endorse the message that the Yushukan museum presents with its displays.

The question is that the displays in Yushukan museum faithfully represents the rationale given by the Japanese government and the military which were promoting the war of aggression at the time.

In a Yushukan pamphlet, the chief priest of Yasukuni Shrine explains that the Japanese war of aggression was unavoidable for ensuring "freedom and equality in the world." This is exactly the logic which the Emperor used to start the Pacific War.

The international community's common understanding is that this pretext for starting the war was used to cover up war crimes.

That is why Prime Minister Koizumi at the November 19 news conference in Pusan said, "I do not support" Yasukuni's view of the war.

It is clear that Aso's statement amounts to confessing that he supports the logic used by the imperial Japanese government and military.
- Akahata, November 23, 2005