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Foreign Minister Aso ignores criticism over his remarks endorsing Yasukuni Shrine's glorification of war

Foreign Minister Aso Taro in parliament reiterated his endorsement of the glorification by Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial war shrine, of the past Japanese war of aggression.

At a House of Councilors committee meeting on November 24, Japanese Communist Party representative Ogata Yasuo questioned the foreign minister about his earlier November 21 statement that "the displays at the Yushukan museum (in the Yasukuni Shrine compounds) depict the facts of the time."

In his questioning Ogata pointed out that the Yushukan museum displays various objects to justify the Japanese war of aggression as a war "for the country's self-defense and survival as well as for the liberation of Asia and blames the United States for the outbreak of the Japanese-U.S. war. Ogata asked Aso: "Does your November 21 statement reflect your understanding of the war?"

Citing the U.S. president's remark that "Tokyo had simply replaced Western colonialism with a version that was often more harsh and repressive" (Aug. 30, marking the 60th anniversary of the victory of the U.S. war on Japan), Ogata asked Aso if he believes that this view is wrong.

Aso emphasized that his view differs from U.S. views saying, "That view may be understandable, but our side (Japan) ought to maintain its own view."

Ogata reminded Aso that Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro in the Diet said that Yasukuni's views are different from the government's views.

Aso said, "The government is not in a position to comment on views expressed by a particular religious corporation."

Ogata criticized the foreign minister for refusing to accept the post-war international order, stating, "The post-war world started by confirming that the Japanese war of aggression was wrong."
- Akahata, November 25, 2005