September 21, 2020

Among 20 Liberal Democratic Party members of the Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide-led Cabinet, 18, including Suga himself, belong to both or each of two parliamentarians’ groups which share a historical view with the war-glorifying Yasukuni Shrine, Akahata reported on September 21.

This fact provides further evidence that Suga holds Abe’s rightist stance and hostility toward the current Constitution, both of which stem from his insistence on historical revisionism.

The two parliamentarians’ groups have a close connection either with the anti-constitution, rightist organizations “Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference)” or “Shintou Seiji Renmei (Shinto political league)”. The two organizations view Japan’s past war of aggression as a just war for self-defense and the liberation of Asia as Yasukuni Shrine claims. They call for a constitutional revision, official visits to the shrine by the prime minister and Emperor, and the promotion of patriotic education.

PM Suga and Vice PM and Finance Minister Aso Taro serve as a vice chair and a special advisor, respectively, within the Nippon Kaigi-related parliamentarians’ league.

Past related article:
> Rightwing parliamentarians’ group members make up majority of Abe’s new Cabinet [September 12, 2019]