Japan Press Weekly

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2013 October 16 - 22 [HISTORY]

PM Abe again offers sacred tree to Yasukuni shrine

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on October 17 offered a decorated sacred tree in the name of the prime minister to the controversial shrine of Yasukuni on the occasion of its annual autumn ritual.

The Yasukuni Shrine is used as a propaganda vehicle justifying Japan’s past war of aggression. China, South Korea, and other Asian nations have been criticizing Japanese lawmakers for visiting or donating religious icons to that shrine.

Despite the fact that Abe dedicated the votive object as prime minister, the deputy chief cabinet secretary explained that it was done in a private capacity.

Asked for comments on Abe making the offering to the shrine, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo told reporters that the prime minister’s action puts on public display his support of justifying and glamorizing the war of aggression.

Shii said, “The most controversial point concerning the Yasukuni Shrine is that it justifies Japan’s past war of aggression as a sacred war for self-defense and national survival as well as for Asian liberation.”

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With the annual seasonal festival taking place at the Yasukuni Shrine, 157 Dietmembers from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, the Japan Restoration Party, the Your Party, and the People’s Life Party on October 18 visited the shrine as a group.

Former Vice-Chairman of the Upper House Otsuji Hidehisa, LDP Policy Research Council Chair Takaichi Sanae, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu were among this group.

Separately on the same day, Minister of Internal Affairs Shindo Yoshitaka also visited the shrine. He later told the press that he made an offering as a private person and he thinks the visit to Yasukuni would not undermine Japan’s diplomacy.

At a later date, Prime Minister Abe’s brother Kishi Nobuo, who serves as senior vice foreign minister, and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Furuya Keiji also worshiped at the shrine.

Furuya read out his comment as state minister saying, “I pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.”

Kishi said to news reporters that he offered a prayer at the shrine with his status as Lower House legislator.