yasukuni

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Prime minister from the outset is unwilling to understand
Akahata editorial

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro at the new year news conference repeatedly said, "I can't understand."

He said, "I can't understand why Japanese people are critical of my shrine visits, much less foreign governments criticizing a politician's private concerns and his Yasukuni Shrine visits." He also said, "I can't understand why intellectuals criticize my visits to Yasukuni Shrine."

The prime minister's statement shows that he has no intention to even listen to let alone understand the criticisms arising from home and abroad.

Self-centered ruler

The prime minister is obliged to abide by Article 20 of the Constitution that states, "The State and its organs shall refrain from religious education or any other religious activity." The prime minister's official visits to Yasukuni Shrine is clearly what the Constitution prohibits.

As a subterfuge, the prime minister said that he makes the visits "as the prime minister, politician, and citizen," and that it is a matter of the "freedom of ideology and conscience." However, it is an extreme form of egoism and a clear violation of the Constitution if he gives priority to practicing his religious belief over his responsibilities as prime ministerial.

Self-centered action of rulers concerning spiritual freedom in such fields as religion, speech, and academic research encroaches on the people's human rights and undermines the foundation of democracy. This is why the Constitution includes stipulations that restrict the activity of the state and its organs. Prime Minister Koizumi's Yasukuni Shrine visits have been criticized not only by intellectuals but also ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

The prime minister's comment that he can't understand why the Japanese people are critical shows that he is ignoring the Constitution. His comment is based on the logic that all Japanese should accept his shrine visits which are tantamount to intimidation.

In fact, the war of aggression and suppressive rule in Japan were carried out at the same time like two sides of the same coin. It is, therefore, not accidental that Koizumi rejects high-handedly the criticism of the Japanese people because he must defend his defiant attitude towards protests by China and South Korea regarding his shrine visits, the countries that had suffered the most during the Japanese war of aggression and colonial rule.

During the war as well as in prewar days, Yasukuni Shrine, as the religious facility of the military, played the role of mobilizing Japanese people for the war. Without reflecting on this, Yasukuni Shrine still glorifies and justifies the war as a "war of self-defense" and "war to liberate Asia." The Prime Minister's visit to the shrine amounts to an official endorsement of "Yasukuni's view of history."

Responding to a Japanese Communist Party representative in the Diet, Koizumi said that the government position was different from that of Yasukuni Shrine. Nevertheless, he continues to go ahead with the visits and makes an open show of defiance towards criticism, an attitude that shows his complete lack of principle.

Whether or not an official endorsement given to the "Yasukuni's view of history" is permissible in the postwar world that stands for the rejection of wars of aggression is the key to the Yasukuni question. Koizumi's insistence on his Yasukuni Shrine visits further exacerbates relations with neighboring countries, and prolongs the stalemate of Japanese diplomacy.

Danger of establishment as an official policy

Koizumi, who actively promotes his image as "an unwavering leader" is now trying to encourage his would-be successors to follow suit in visiting Yasukuni. Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe Shinzo and Foreign Minister Aso Taro have repeatedly justified Koizumi's visits to the shrine.

It is very dangerous for the world that they are opening up the path to establish the prime minister's visits to Yasukuni Shrine as an official policy of Japan. Let us strengthen the opposition movement so as not to allow this to transpire.
- Akahata, January 6, 2006