Japan Press Weekly

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2014 October 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

PM Abe again sends offerings to war-glorifying shrine

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on October 17 sent a “masakaki” tree offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo which glorifies Japan’s past war of aggression.

The shrine is holding the annual autumn festival from October 17 to 20. Speaker of the House of Representatives Ibuki Bunmei, President of the House of Councilors Yamazaki Masaaki, and health minister Shiozaki Yasuhisa also sent ritual tree offerings to the shrine on the same day.

PM Abe has annually dedicated a ceremonial tree on the occasion of the shrine’s festivals since he took office in December 2012. On the first anniversary of the launch of his government in December 2013, Abe paid a visit to the shrine. It was the first time in seven years for a prime minister to visit the shrine.

During World War II, Yasukuni Shrine played a role as a spiritual prop to mobilize the general public for Japan’s aggressive war. Even after the war ended, it has openly advocated that Japan fought a just war for the sake of its “self-existence and self-defense” and “the liberation of Asia from Western rule”.

The prime minister in effect places himself in the same position ideologically as the war shrine by sending offerings and paying a visit to it.

These actions by key figures in the Cabinet and the Diet will not only worsen relations with China and South Korea but also further isolate Japan in the global community.


Past related article:
> PM’s visit to Yasukuni challenges post-war international order: JCP Kasai [February 13, 2014]