Japan Press Weekly

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2017 August 16 - 22 [POLITICS]

More than 160 parliamentarians visit war-glorifying Yasukuni Shrine

On August 15, the day marking the 72nd anniversary of Japan’s surrender in WWII, more than 160 pro-Yasukuni parliamentarians of the Liberal Democratic, Democratic and Nippon Ishin no Kai parties, including former Defense Minister Inada Tomomi, visited the war-glorifying shrine.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has avoided visiting the shrine since he made a comeback to power in 2012, but every year has sent a monetary offering to the shrine through his aide. Neither Abe nor any other Cabinet minister made a visit this year.

Yasukuni Shrine, a Shinto-based war shrine, promotes Japan’s past wars of aggression as just wars for the liberation of Asia and for Japan’s survival and self-defense. Abe’s offerings to the shrine and Dietmembers’ visits clearly reveal their support for Yasukuni’s historical view, which is tantamount to challenging the post-war world order and undermines relations with Asian neighbors.

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On the same day, at this year’s government-hosted National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead, PM Abe in his address again refused to reflect on Japan’s war of aggression against Asian countries for the fifth year in a row since 2012.

On the other hand, stating, “The peace and prosperity we enjoy at this moment was built atop the precious sacrifices of those souls who sacrificed their lives,” Abe expressed regret over the fact that more than three million Japanese people were killed in the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) as well as in the Pacific War (1941-1945).

Past related articles:
> Abe shows no remorse over past war of aggression for 4 straight years [ August 16, 2016]
> Defense Minister Inada reluctantly cancels her visit to Yasukuni due to ‘official overseas trip’ [ August 16, 2016]