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Japanese cabinet ministers have visited the controversial Yasukuni
Shrine, which honors soldiers who died during World War Two, including
14 Class-A war criminals.Visits to the shrine by Japanese politicians have drawn condemnation from China and South Korea, both of which suffered from Japan’s aggression.
The visitors include internal affairs minister Yoshitaka Shindo and Keiji Furuya, head of the national public safety commission. A large group of conservative Japanese lawmakers is also expected to pay their respects, including a senior executive in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party.
Abe himself sent a ritual offering for war dead, but did not visit in person in an effort to avoid inflaming tensions with Asian neighbours.
http://english.cntv.cn
15/8/13
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China strongly condemns Japan over shrine....
ReplyDeleteBEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- China expressed a strong protest and condemnation regarding Japanese cabinet members' visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday.
Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin summoned Japanese ambassador to China Masato Kitera and lodged solemn representations over the issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
http://english.cntv.cn/20130815/103326.shtml
15/8/13
Commentary: Irresponsible attitudes toward history jeopardize Japan's future...
ReplyDeleteby Xinhua writer Yuan Zhenyu, Wu Liming
BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least two Japanese cabinet ministers paid their respects at Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of the country's past militarism, as the 68th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II came on Thursday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abehimself shied away from the notorious shrine, but he decided Wednesday to offer a sacrifice. His nod to the ministers' visits and their recent provocative remarks signals that the current Japanese government has gone too far on the right-leaning road, raising fears among Japan's neighbors about a dangerous revival of its militarist past.
The Abe administration has made no secret that the pacifist clause of the Constitution, a crucial pillar of Japan's post-war political arrangements, is an impediment to his ambition of bolstering military power.
Japan has seen the rise of defense expenditure for the first time in a decade in the name of improving "self-defense" capabilities.
The Japanese government, despite unequivocal opposition from China, moved ahead last year with its plan to "purchase" some of the Diaoyu Islands, an integral part of Chinese territories, igniting a fierce maritime dispute with Beijing.
Japanese government officials, while claiming they are willing to have direct talks with their Chinese counterparts, continue to infuriate China with irresponsible attitudes toward history and provocative words, escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific.
China is committed to using peaceful means and negotiations to settle maritime disagreements, but is also ready to protect its territorial rights and safeguard stability in the region.
The irresponsible words and acts of some Japanese right-leaning politicians have taken a heavy toll on the country's relations with its neighbors, seriously dented its credibility and tarnished the country's image.
On this special day, Japan must reflect upon its history of aggression, sincerely apologize to the victims of its militarist past, and thus work to secure a peaceful future for the country itself and the region at large.
http://english.cntv.cn/20130815/102573.shtml
15/8/13
Japan sends wrong signals with Yasukuni visits: German newspaper...
ReplyDeleteBERLIN, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Japan has sent wrong signals to the rest of the world by visiting a shrine honoring war criminals and by intentionally omitting regret for war victims, a German newspaper commented on Friday.
Frankfurter Allgemeine, a conservative German newspaper, said that the political elite of an island nation "should know that they are not allowed to do everything," calling Japanese cabinet members' visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday a "tragedy."
"The head of the Japanese government tells the world that he is interested only in his local clientele. Does the man know what he's doing?" said the newspaper.
"Japan still needs friends from the rest of the world. Abe is going to alienate them."
Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo honors 14 Class-A war criminals in World War II.
At a ceremony on Thursday marking the 68th anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe renewed at his pledge to contribute to world peace but did not mention Japan's wartime aggression in Asia, neither did he "pledge not to fight a war."
Three cabinet ministers and some 90 lawmakers visited Yasukuni Shrine on the day.
http://english.cntv.cn/20130817/102016.shtml
17/8/13
Japan's Abe Sends Offering to Controversial War Shrine....
ReplyDeleteJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not personally visit the Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday, the first day of an annual autumn festival, but did send a ritual offering. Many see Yasukuni as a symbol of Tokyo's imperialist past.
China and South Korea, both victims of Japanese war-time aggression, regularly complain when Japanese leaders visit the Tokyo memorial.
Yasukuni honors Japan's nearly 2.5 million war dead, including 14 convicted war criminals from WWII.
This is the third time Abe has sent an offering to the shrine since becoming prime minister in December.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said it is not the government's place to comment on such "personal acts," but said he understood the sentiment being expressed.
"Praying for those who have given their lives to protect their country from threats both inside and out and paying one's respects is only natural," said Kato.
A shrine official confirmed that Abe's offering was received, noting that it was made in the name of the prime minister.
There has been no response from China or South Korea yet, which have recently accused Japan of not showing proper remorse for its past.
China-Japan ties have also been damaged by a recent flare-up in a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
http://www.voanews.com/content/japans-abe-sends-offering-to-controversial-war-shrine/1771336.html
17/10/3
Japanese minister visits controversial war shrine...
ReplyDeleteAFP - A cabinet minister was among scores of Japanese parliamentarians who paid tribute at a controversial war shrine in Tokyo Friday, in a move likely to anger China and South Korea.
Yoshitaka Shindo, minister for internal affairs and communications, insisted he was paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine as an individual, and played down the potential for diplomatic fallout.
"I offered prayers in a private capacity," Shindo, who wore a morning suit, told reporters after making his offering of a branch from a sacred tree.
"I mourned people who lost their lives in wars and prayed for peace," said Shindo, whose grandfather, the commandant of a garrison on Iwojima, died in the infamous battle for the island.
Iwojima was a key staging post for the US military in its assault on Japan in the closing stages of World War II.
Asked if his visit to the shrine would affect Tokyo's ties with other Asian countries, he said: "It's not something that should provoke comments from anyone."
"I don't think this will develop into a diplomatic issue at all."
The visits were part of the autumn festival at Yasukuni, which runs until Sunday. Thousands of veterans from WWII or their bereaved families are expected to pay homage, while tourists, both domestic and foreign, will also visit.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday donated a symbolic gift to the shrine, in what was taken as a sign that he would not be visiting.
Yasukuni Shrine is the believed repository of the souls of about 2.5 million war dead.
It is controversial because of the inclusion of 14 of the men held responsible for Japan's often-brutal behaviour as it invaded a swathe of Asia in the 1930s and 1940s.
In addition, the museum that is attached to the shrine peddles a largely unapologetic view of WWII that is not widely accepted, either at home or abroad.
China and South Korea, whose peoples suffered under Japan's militarist rule, say Yasukuni is a symbol of Tokyo's present-day unwillingness to come to terms with its past misdeeds.
However, Japanese conservatives say it is natural that they pay homage to people who lost their lives in the service of their country, and insist the shrine is no different from Arlington National Cemetery, where the United States honours its war dead......http://www.france24.com/en/20131018-japanese-minister-visits-controversial-war-shrine
18/10/13
About 160 Japanese lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine....
ReplyDeleteTOKYO, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- About 160 Japanese lawmakers from a nonpartisan group on Friday morning worshipped the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine during its autumn festival, according to local media.
Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo also paid a visit to the controversial shrine earlier the day, after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday sent an offering to the shrine under the title of "prime minister."
Sanae Takaichi, policy chief of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was among the herd of lawmakers that visited the notorious shrine, saying that they should continue to visit the shrine, which is considered as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism.
During its spring festival in April, 168 Japanese lawmakers worshipped the Yasukuni, the highest number since 1989, triggering fierce opposition from Japan's neighboring countries, namely China and South Korea.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato also paid a visit earlier the day and said that Japan will continue to strengthen ties with neighboring countries while making sure the issue will not affect their relations as a whole.
The visits are amid current strained relations between Japan and the two countries, both of them suffered aggression by Japan in wartime, due to Japan's attitude toward wartime history and territorial disputes.
About 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including 14 Class-A war criminals during the World War II, are enshrined in Yasukuni and repeated visits to the controversial shrine by Japanese cabinet ministers and lawmakers have been a major obstacle for Japan to mend ties with the two countries.
Hidehisa Otsuji, a LDP upper house lawmaker who heads the worship group, said he believes that Abe will visit the controversial shrine eventually. The Japanese prime minister, known as a hawkish conservative, does not refrain his cabinet members from visiting the notorious shrine.
China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Thursday urged Japan to properly deal with the issues surrounding the controversial shrine and to face up to and make real introspection for its history of aggression after Abe's offering.
Meanwhile, South Korean officials also blasted Abe for yet another inconsiderate gesture made at the controversial shrine.......http://english.cntv.cn/20131018/103355.shtml
18/10/13
Japan's Abe likely to visit Yasukuni shrine by end of year ...
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead by the end of the year, Japanese media reported on Sunday, citing an aide in Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Such a visit would almost certainly anger Asian victims of Japan's past aggression. Relations with China and South Korea are also strained over territorial disputes.
The media reports came two days after a Japanese minister and more than 100 lawmakers visited the shrine, prompting China to accuse Japan of undermining ties.
Another minister, cabinet member Keiji Furuya, visited the shrine on Sunday, the last day of the shrine's autumn festival, Kyodo news agency reported.
Furuya's ministerial responsibilities include Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.
On Thursday, Abe made his third ritual offering to the shrine since returning to office in December but he has so far not visited in person to avoid further upsetting China and South Korea.
As well as Japan's war dead, Yasukuni also honours Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal, making it a painful reminder to nations that suffered from Japanese aggression in the 20th century.
Abe has said he regretted not visiting the shrine in person when he first served as prime minister in 2006-07.
Kyodo quoted Koichi Hagiuda, a lawmaker and aide to Abe, as saying Abe's position on the shrine had not changed.
Hagiuda told reporters he thinks Abe would visit the shrine within the first year of his current government - in other words, by December.
"Some people say he should visit the shrine sometime while he is prime minister, but a visit to the shrine should be made at least once a year," Kyodo quoted Hagiuda as saying.
Kyodo also said Abe had told reporters on Saturday he still regretted not visiting the shrine during his earlier term as prime minister.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/japans-abe-likely-to-visit-yasukuni-shrine-by-end-of-year-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=56502&NewsCatID=356
20/10/13
Japan PM Shinzo Abe visits Yasukuni WW2 shrine....
ReplyDeleteJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited a controversial shrine to World War Two dead, exactly one year after he took office.
Mr Abe said his visit to Yasukuni was "to pledge and determine that never again will people suffer in war".
He said it was "not intended to hurt the Chinese or South Koreans".
But a Chinese foreign ministry official was quick to denounce the visit as "absolutely unacceptable to the Chinese people".
Yasukuni honours several convicted Japanese war criminals. Beijing and Seoul see it as a symbol of Tokyo's war-time aggression.
This is the first visit to Yasukuni by a serving prime minister since 2006.
Japan must take responsibility'
Mr Abe entered the shrine on Thursday morning, wearing a morning suit and grey tie. His arrival was televised live.
"I chose this day to report (to the souls of the dead) what we have done in the year since the administration launched and to pledge and determine that never again will people suffer in war," he said as he visited the shrine.
"I hope for an opportunity to explain to China and South Korea that strengthening ties would be in the national interest," he added.
The prime minister's office said this was not an official visit, and that Mr Abe went to the shrine as a private citizen.
But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said: "We strongly protest and seriously condemn the Japanese leader's acts."
"This poses a major political obstacle in the improvement of bilateral relations. Japan must take responsibility for all the consequences that this creates."...................http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25517205
26/12/13
Επισκέφθηκε το μνημείο Γιασουκούνι ο Ιάπωνας πρωθυπουργός...
ReplyDeleteΟ πρωθυπουργός Άμπε μετέβη στο μνημείο Γιασουκούνι προκαλώντας την αντίδραση της Κίνας που χαρακτήρισε την κίνηση απολύτως απαράδεκτη.
Ο Ιάπωνας πρωθυπουργός Σίνζο Αμπε μετέβη αργά το πρωί ώρα Τόκιο στο μνημείο Γιασουκούνι της ιαπωνικής πρωτεύουσας προκαλώντας την άμεση αντίδραση του Πεκίνου το οποίο χαρακτήρισε την κίνηση του Άμπε απολύτως απαράδεκτη. «Είναι απολύτως απαράδεκτο για τον κινεζικό λαό και η Ιαπωνία θα υποστεί τις συνέπειες», ανέφερε σε δήλωσή του ο γενικός διευθυντής ασιατικών υποθέσεων του κινεζικού υπουργείου Εξωτερικών, Λούο Σαοχούι.
Ο ιάπωνας πρωθυπουργός επισκεπτόμενος το μνημείο, το οποίο θεωρείται από τις γειτονικές χώρες Κίνα και Νότια Κορέα σύμβολο του ιαπωνικού μιλιταριστικού παρελθόντος δήλωσε ότι η κίνηση του ήταν μια συμβολική πράξη ενάντια στον πόλεμο και δεν είχε σκοπό να προκαλέσει τις γειτονικές χώρες Κίνα και Νότια Κορέα. «Επέλεξα αυτή την ημέρα η οποία σηματοδοτεί την πρώτη μου χρονιά στο πρωθυπουργικό γραφείο για να επιβεβαιώσω την αποφασιστικότητά μου, ώστε κανείς να μην υποφέρει και πάλι από τον πόλεμο», δήλωσε ο επικεφαλής της κυβέρνησης στο Τόκιο. Ο Άμπε κατέθεσε στο μνημείο δύο μπουκέτα από λευκά λουλούδια, με την επιγραφή « Σίνζο Άμπε πρωθυπουργός».
Κανείς επικεφαλής κυβέρνησης δεν είχε μεταβεί στο συγκεκριμένο ιαπωνικό ιερό από τότε που ο Γιουνιχίρο Κοϊζούμι το επισκέφτηκε στις 15 Αυγούστου του 2006, ανήμερα της επετείου της συνθηκολόγησης της Ιαπωνίας κατά τον Β 'Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Αυτό το ιερό βρίσκεται στην καρδιά της ιαπωνικής πρωτεύουσας και τιμά τις ψυχές των 2,5 εκατομμυρίων στρατιωτών που έχασαν τη ζωή τους για την Ιαπωνία κατά τη διάρκεια των σύγχρονων πολέμων.
Η κακή του «φήμη» προέρχεται από την εγγραφή στο μνημείο το 1978 των ονομάτων 14 εγκληματιών πολέμου (που καταδικάστηκαν από τους Συμμάχους μετά το 1945 ). Μεταξύ αυτών είναι ο στρατηγός Χιντέλκι Τόγιο πρωθυπουργός της Ιαπωνίας κατά τη διάρκεια της επίθεσης στο Περλ Χάρμπορ στις 7 Δεκεμβρίου του 1941, που ουσιαστικά επιτάχυνε την είσοδο στον πόλεμο των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών...........................http://www.zougla.gr/kosmos/article/episkef8ike-to-mnimio-giasoukouni-o-iaponas-pro8ipourgos
26/12/13
China condemns Japan PM Shinzo Abe's Yasukuni shrine visit....
ReplyDeleteChina and South Korea have condemned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for visiting a shrine that honours war dead including convicted war criminals.
Seoul said it was furious with the "deplorable" act, and Beijing labelled the visit "absolutely unacceptable" and summoned Japan's ambassador.
Japan's neighbours see the Yasukuni shrine as a symbol of the militarism of Japan during and before World War Two.
US officials said the visit would "exacerbate tensions" in the region.
China, Japan and South Korea are embroiled in a number of disputes over territory in the East China Sea.................http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25518166
26/12/13