Japan Press Weekly

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2022 October 19 - 25 [POLITICS]

90 pro-Yasukuni Dietmembers visit war-glorifying Yasukuni Shrine

A group of 90 pro-Yasukuni Dietmembers, 76 from the Liberal Democratic Party and ten from the "Nippon Ishin no Kai" party, visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on October 18 for the shrine's annual autumn festival.

During the Asia-Pacific War, Yasukuni Shrine played an important role as a religious prop mobilizing the general public for Japan's war of aggression.

The 90 attendees included 13 vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries.

The Japan-China Friendship Association (chairman Inoue Hisashi) released a statement on the same day in protest against Prime Minister Kishida Fumio making an offering to the shrine (Oct. 17), and Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae (Oct. 17) as well as Economy Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi (Oct. 14) offering prayers at the shrine.

The statement points out that the worshipping and the dedication of offerings to the shrine in question by senior government officials and Dietmembers are in violation of Article 20 of the postwar Japanese Constitution stipulating the separation of religion and politics. It criticizes them for showing the world that they share the same perception of history with Yasukuni Shrine which glorifies Japan's past war of aggression and colonial rule.

The statement demands that the Japanese government place importance on the internationally-shared understanding of history. It also demands that the government fulfill its role as a peaceful nation in peace-building in Asia and the rest of the world based on the spirit of agreements concluded between Japan and China such as the Japan-China Joint Communique which realized the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries 50 years ago.