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Do you agree that Emperor Akihito should visit the Yasukuni War Shrine

Do you agree that Emperor Akihito should visit the Yasukuni War Shrine?

  • Yes, I do

    Votes: 10 31.3%

  • No, I don't

    Votes: 13 40.6%

  • I am Neutral toward this matter

    Votes: 2 6.3%

  • I do not know enough background info to make a judgment

    Votes: 5 15.6%

  • I am not interested in this matter

    Votes: 2 6.3%
  • Total voters
    32
N

nhk9

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There have been calls by some senior officials within the current Japanese government cabinet for the current Japanese Emperor to visit the war shrine Yasukuni Jinja in Tokyo that is famous for enshrining 14 A-class War Criminals including the infamous wartime Prime Minister of Japan Hideki Tojo. Below is an article from BBC

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Japan emperor 'must visit shrine'

I am interested in seeing your views on whether or not you think the Japanese Emperor should visit the warshrine. The Foreign Minister of Japan says that "from the viewpoint of the spirits of the war dead, they (the Japanese soldiers) hailed 'Banzai' ['long life'] for the emperor. None of them said, 'Long live the prime minister'"

Many of us probably have heard that the Japanese Prime Minister J. Koizumi have chosen to visit the same shrine yearly, because of "personal" reasons. He has claimed in various reports that angers directed toward his visits in neighbouring countries such a Republic of Korea & PR China is due to "misunderstandings" of his true intentions, and that relations between the countries will improve once the "misunderstandings" cease. It has also been reported that he would continue visiting the shrine even if, in the future, George Bush's administration asks him to reconsider.

I think that the Japanese Emperor has his own point of views with regard to such type of visits. Like Koizumi, he should have his own say in whether or not he wants to go. Even though most of us would probably agree that the Emperor merely serves as a puppetlike role, it is still rather unfortunate to see that the symbol of Japan is being manipulated for such extreme right-wing agendas even in the modern times. Personally I fail to see much advantage to the relations of Japan with her neighbouring countries. However, there's much as stake with the nationalism movement, and it would be a victory for those parties if and when the Emperor visits the shrine.
 
It is free will of His Majesty the Emperor that His Majesty the Emperor goes and worships at Yasukuni shrine.
 
I think this is a tricky question, considering that the Japanese imperial system is founded on Shintoism.

Considering Emperor Akihito's comments on regarding WWII (suggesting that he truly repents what Japan did to neighboring nations), he probably won't go if it is his personal choice and such a visit can raise international furor. However, there are occasions when his visits are dictated by practices of the Imperial system. In addition to that, I think he doesn't have much say on such visits (with the Imperial Household Agency and the current cabinet running his schedule)....

Just my two yen. ☝
 
Well, I don't really know very much about the technicalities of the matter, although I know that feelings do run high about it. But the previous two posters raised good points:
a) The Emperor has the right to exercise his free will to do whatever the hell he likes (and it's up to him to decide the diplomatic/political pros and cons of his actions); and
b) exactly how much 'freedom' in the matter does he have, anyway, or how much is it dictated to him by protocol that he has to do it?

Although I disagree for obvious reasons with anyone 'glorifying' or 'honouring' war criminals in any way, it is also true that there are 'only' (I know it's too many anyway, but...) 14 war criminals (of the A-class) at the shrine... I don't know how many of the other classes there are, but I think it's fair to say that there are also many other soldiers/war dead at the shrine, and I think it's OK for the Emperor (or anyone for that matter) to go and pay their respects to the war dead. I think it becomes offensive if they make a specially big deal about the war criminals specifically, but otherwise, if he has expressed regret about the actions of war criminals (as suggested by what Epigene said: "Considering Emperor Akihito's comments on regarding WWII (suggesting that he truly repents what Japan did to neighboring nations)"), I think it is OK...
 
They are dead. Going there to worship means you pray for their souls or some such matter right? who needs that more than the people that have gone astray?

It's not like they go there to pray they reincarnate and do it again. People are talking without thinking in this matter, taking something completely irrelevant and making a big deal of it.
 
Am i right in saying the emperor denounced his position in the 80's that didn't go down with the Japanese folk, Emperor himself, i believe should visit this shrine as not of Emperor but as a Japanese citizen to respect those that have past.
 
The Yasukuni Jinja in Tokyo is faraway from the Netherlands.
But emperor Akihito and his family are very close friends with the Dutch royal family, especially with our queen Beatrix and with our crown prince Willem Alexander.
Even the Dutch from the former Dutch East Indies (like me) see him as a sympathic man. But I am afraid that from the moment that he would decide to walk into that shine, that he will lose his innocence in the eyes many.
 
jack2 said:
Am i right in saying the emperor denounced his position in the 80's that didn't go down with the Japanese folk, Emperor himself, i believe should visit this shrine as not of Emperor but as a Japanese citizen to respect those that have past.
Click to expand...
In college, as part of my studies, I studied the Japanese constitution. It's hard to think of His Majesty the Emporer as "legally" being a "citizen" of Japan, given the text of the constitution.
 
I found an interesting blog in Japanese regarding the issue of the Emperor and visit to the Yasukuni Shrine.

http://deadletter.hmc5.com/blog/archives/000090.html

According to this individual, who has keen interest on the issue and has read quite a bit on the subject, found that the late Emperor Showa deliberately never visited Yasukuni, since the Class-A war criminals had been enshrined there until his passing. Considering the more democratic inclination and open-mindedness of the current Emperor (which he cannot show openly because of "imprisonment in his gilded cage"), it is actually outrageous of the current administration if the Emperor is "made" to make the visit.

I really wish I had the time to translate this blog for all of you and hope someone else can.
 
The utterance of Prime Minister Koizumi, the Ishihara Governor of Tokyo, and a right-wing organization regards me as disrespectful to His Majesty the Emperor.

:auch:
 
Someone made a comment about this international smear campaign, namely in a New York Times article.

Facing Up to the Past: Japan Makes Its Case



Facing Up to the Past: Japan Makes Its Case

To the Editor:

Re "Japan's Offensive Foreign Minister" (editorial, Feb. 13):

Foreign Minister Taro Aso has neither justified nor denied Japan's past history of colonial rule or wartime aggression. His recent speech on Asia made this crystal-clear, and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's statements on the subject on numerous occasions have reflected this notion. History classes in Japan do as well.

Nor did Mr. Aso say the emperor ought to visit Yasukuni Shrine in the present circumstances. He simply pointed out the need to consider a way that government representatives, as well as the emperor, could naturally honor the Japanese war dead without causing discomfort to neighboring countries.

Japan, by adhering to strictly defensive security policy, has never posed any threat to any other countries, including China, for the past 60 years.
Mr. Aso welcomes China as a responsible partner, and its rise as an opportunity. He simply referred to international concerns over China's consistent and nontransparent military activities and buildup. Given the regrettable incident of the trespass of a submerged nuclear submarine into Japan's territorial waters, China must strive to meet your criterion of "no recent record of threatening Japan."

Japan continues to encourage China to improve transparency in its military affairs in accordance with the Japan-United States Joint Statement issued by our countries' foreign and defense ministers in February 2005.

Hiroshi Sato
Acting Consul General of Japan
New York, Feb. 18, 2006
 
Aso's sugestion is far out

If the present Emperor followed FM Aso's idea up and visited the Yasukuni War Shrine it would be his worst mistake so far. It would open up a pandoras box. After the war the previous Emperor avoided to face any war crimes trial because Gen. MacArthur thought that it was better to put the blame on the politicians and military. The 14 controversial war criminals who are now in the shrine were the ones who had to take the blame for an agressive policy which ended up costing so many lives abroad and at home. FM Aso says that the soldiers said "Bansai" and died for the emperor, and that is perfectly right, but is that not something the present emperial family would rather forget about? If the present Emperor did show his respect to those who instead of his father took the blame for the crimes before and during WWII, he would risk that a long forgotten debate about the former Emperors role and possible blame in connection with the Japans attack on various neighboor countries. This debate would hardly be in the interest of the Emperial family and Japan as a nation.
If the war criminals were not in the shrine it would be very natural and uncontroversial for the Emperor, PM and others to show his respect by visiting the shrine. Even though it would be a simple measure in direction of reconciliation to move the 14 class A war criminals out of the shrine, nobody seems to be willing to discuss that solution seriously.
Anyway the whole issue regarding guilt and blame in connection with WWII is still very much a taboo. Perhaps because the japanese population due to cencorship during the american occupation were not able to discuss these issues at all, they remain taboo.
 
Han Chan said:
If the present Emperor followed FM Aso's idea up and visited the Yasukuni War Shrine it would be his worst mistake so far.
Click to expand...
Yet another one who did not even bother going through previous replies in the thread, blindly believing anti-Japan media to be fooled by fabrication.

Link
 
Aso's provocative statement (translation - obviously):
"From the viewpoint of the spirits of the war dead, they hailed ﾂ'Banzai' for the emperor—none of them said long live the prime minister. A visit by the emperor would be the best."
窶督ｼ窶督ｳ窶堋ｵ's quote (LDP's later attempt to damage control):
"Nor did Mr. Aso say the emperor ought to visit Yasukuni Shrine in the present circumstances. He simply pointed out the need to consider a way that government representatives, as well as the emperor, could naturally honor the Japanese war dead without causing discomfort to neighboring countries".
Japans present Foreign Minister keeps on saying things that his party's spindoctors later have to explain or defuse. If he becomes Prime Minister the damage done by his unsensitive remarks can become worse.
It is interesting that the editorial in NYT came after the PM had claimed that it was only the koreans and the chinese who were interested in the Yakusuni issue. Obviously there also other nationalities who find the issue important. I do not think that NYT is anti-japanese, but we are many, both in Japan and abroad who are amased at LDPs behavior lately.
 
Han Chan said:
"From the viewpoint of the spirits of the war dead, they hailed 窶錬anzai窶 for the emperor窶馬one of them said long live the prime minister. A visit by the emperor would be the best."
Click to expand...
It is the translation of the first half, the original is ↓ The last sentence does not say that the emperor should visit Yasukuni [without solving the issues.] It just says that Emperor's visit would be the best [if it can happen.] That is because the second half goes, which roughly translates:
"It is since the private/public issue why [the emperor] cannot do [that anymore.]"
"There will be several answers if making the topic 'how to solve it.'"

窶｢ "Private/public" means then-PM Takeo Miki's controversial visit on Aug. 15th 1975. Aso links that with the emperor's final visit on Nov. 21st 1975, but it is nothing more than Aso's personal speculation because Emperor Showa never expressed the reason. Class A war criminal enshrinement in 1978 might be an additional issue on the top of private/public one, or enshrinement might well be the one.
窶｢ "Solving issue" means that Aso thinks that Emperor cannot visit Yasukuni in the present circumstances. Types of issues are not specified in the sentense.


Therefore Aso's stance is:
"Once the issues are solved, Emperor will become able to visit Yasukuni (or some other premise.) His visit would be ideal because war deads' spilits would feel happy that way."
 
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Unfortunately I cannot vote on this poll because my feelings are not an option apparently.

I feel honoring the average Japanese soldier is only right, however, I war criminals should have a decidedly harrier afterlife. The shrine needs to continue to stand in honor to those many honorable soldiers, and I have a feeling that it would not be very easy to erase the names of the war criminals from the shrine, SO, here is what I would propose (except I'm not exactly part of the Japanese legislature of course)....

A memorial is something to be careful with, and thus what could be done to justify the Emperor's visits is to put up a SEPARATE memorial nearby (NOT on the same grounds as the shrine!) in memory of the victims of atrocities.

Anyways, I know there will be people on both sides of this issue who disagree with me, so go ahead and say what you will. Those on the left side of this issue can tell me I'm too lenient on war criminals (Shiro Ishii, like Chairman Mao and his cohorts, was murderer in my opinion also, thank you very much) and those on the right side can tell me how the Japanese Army never committed any mass killings and rapes (ok sure, if you doubt my words on Shiro Ishii I can retrieve newsreels of Unit 731 for you, as well as witness accounts; oh ye, almost forgot, you'll tell me that it's communist propaganda, but.... I-AM-NOT-A COMMUNIST!)
 
NHK news Nothing new about emperor Showa's intention, it has been discussed for years. The "discovery" is no different from other stewards' past comments.
Some questions which Tomita cannot answer because he is dead:

• Why were the paragraphs written on a separate sheet of paper, attached in one of more than twenty notebooks where Tomita logged conversations with emperor Showa for over a decade? How many more pages with memo paper attached besides that particular case?

• It is dated Apr. 28 1988. Tomita's record started in 1975, why was there no mention on Yasukuni topic in 1979 entries? Did he perhaps recall a conversation ten years after then attached it on a 1979 entry page, or was the memo on a 1988 page? Or did the emperor say anything in 1988, less than a year before he died? Media never gives an answer.

• Yasukuni was not a controversial issue in late 1980s, because no PM or emperor visited there back then. Why did it have to be written out at that time?

• It seems, no full text reported by any media (they are known to edit things to achieve their goals.) There is no "his magesty said" word in what media reported, all were "I think" style instead. What if Tomita kept a separate notebook to log conversations with others, then someone cut off a page to slip it in the notebook for the emperor's words?

Speaking of which, more than twenty notebooks would be some greatest information sources for modern history researchers, somehow media ignores that and concentrates on just a piece of paper, chanting Yasukuni Yasukuni.
They do not seem to be conducting any investigation on handwriting, ink paper and glue, as well as fingerprints either.

One more: Did Tomita ever sign a non-disclosure agreement with imperial household agency, do they think it is just fine that a memo or two leaking out, once he is dead?

related post
 
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at first
1)The emperor and Imperial household are not the Japanese citizen by law . ☝
they dont have a family register as the japanese,
There is no restricted reason for toleration (Article 20) intended for the
people.
What is an Emperor?
The emperor is a Shinto priest of the first rank in Shintoism.
Constitution of Japan' Article 7
The emperor must hold a ceremony......
I think emperor's Yaukuni visit will be a Solution of yasukuni problem..
the japanese Emperor is ruler or sovereign virtually in japan
most of foreign country is considering as that japanese PM is Lower than Emperor
Yes there is no person who is higher than empror in japan.
The Yasukuni visit by PM Koizumi is a problem.
As a result,
China and South Korea repulsed it
It made the politics and diplomatic issue .
If Emperor visits to yasukuni, what would be happend?
They cannot use a diplomatic card of yasukuni anymore.
If they criticize the emperor, The selection of the remainder of them would be
rupture of diplomatic intercourse or the war.
Do they understand it?.....
 
The problem isn't that someone is visiting the Yasukuni shrine, the problem is the fact that Japan isn't culpable for any of its warcrimes whatsoever.

Emperor Hirohito was spared any sort of trial for warcrimes during the restoration of Japan, most likely to aid in keeping the peace while Japan was being rebuilt. Japan has never said, "yes--- we are guilty of warcrimes"... In any case, any admissions to this have been circumspect. This is the issue.

Japan's feeling on warcrimes was that since it was not a signatory to the Geneva Conventions until after WWII, its actions do not apply, furthermore it does not hold any actions against Japan as act of war crime either, for that matter---

The fact of the matter is that no public appology made by Japan has thusfar been sufficient--- Japan refuses to publicly recognise its own agression, it's easier just to re-teach its children that it never happened rather than have some sense of national guilt, admission, & a sense of moral responsibility... I speak of the government soley and destinctlly, not the people of Japan in general.

Japan feels that it has admited this culpability, to some extent, has paid reperations to Chinese citizens...

[1]

& yet... & yet...
 
I think it is the most stupid things.☝
you may not understand chinese and korean.

because their way is zero-sum game.
The idea of their characteristics is always Zero-sum.
That is, their positions improve if Japan is beaten.
it is a hegemony idea.
It is a method of make Japan a twicer strengthening the race's unity.

other cuntries is not.
 
Diary Details Final Years of Emperor Showa It is the safest to suspect that the report might be yet another red Asahi's hoax just like the "KY" coral reef vandalism case in the past.
Their credibility is as great as People's Daily anyway.
 
I've stayed out of this discussion until it just resurfaced, so I think, after being cool for many months on this issue, I can comment a little.

I believe the Emperor should visit the war shrine, if at least for the memory of the men who died in the name of his predecessor. They also committed atrocities in the Emperor's name, yes, but honestly, it was war, and in our cushioned modern existence, where few of us have to suffer something so traumatic as the Second World War, I don't believe we have that much of a right to judge everything that was done.

Yes, war criminals are enshrined there. I have no doubt that war criminals are listed on The Wall in Washington, D.C. Yet people still visit it. I take issue with the plaques that claim the United States was the aggressor, but I guess they're saving face. Nevertheless, the Emperor should visit the shrine. He is a public figure. A solemn visit to the memorial and perhaps a follow-up speech about how the mistakes of the past must not be repeated in the future would be constructive.
 
I think that the Emperor should visit the war shrine, only when the war criminals are taken out... But I don't think that's going to happen.
 
Dutch Baka said:
I think that the Emperor should visit the war shrine, only when the war criminals are taken out... But I don't think that's going to happen.
Click to expand...
I honestly think that it isn't our place to make that call. Besides, those men died for their country and their Emperor, among other things. Their deeds need to be put in their proper perspective, true, but I still think that the Shrine that memorializes soldiers slain in your country's name should not be selective.

It's not the fact that the shrine exists. It is the lack of objective perspective on some of the memorialized that bothers me.
 
The emperor should go to yasukuni.
I think it is a solution of Yasukuni problem.
1) he is not the Japanese citizen in the constitution
2) he must hold (shinto?)ceremony in the constitution
at first, the japanese never say "prime minister Banzai"
prime minister is a just "o-chan"
The emperor is a Shinto priest of the first rank in Shintoism. and he must hold the ceremony...though It is not concretely described clearly in the constitution.
The Yasukuni Shrine visit by the prime minister becomes politics and a
diplomatic issue.
"Emperor" is treated from various foreign countries as substantial "Sovereign in Japan".
The prime minister is lower.. that is , there is no person higher than him
I think when the emperor visits Yasukuni, prime minister's "Yasukuni
problem" is solved completely, because Emperor is higher.
as for Korean and china, I think they can use this card(yasukuni problem) because of prime minster.
can they criticize " the Emperor syatem"?
if they do, there is no behind against Japan.
The selection is a war or rupture of diplomatic intercourse.
funny thing is to be just caused by sinocentrism issue such like just idea or thought.( it is just Pressing of their idea)
If they understand the importance of the thing that they criticize the emperor, they can not tuch it ....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
窶佚ｦﾅｽﾂｵﾂ湘ｰﾂ ﾂ【窶弖ﾂ皇窶堙個坂?佛ｽ窶督行ﾋ?猟】
ﾂ 窶弖ﾂ皇窶堙債、窶愿?ﾅ?t窶堙個鞘?｢ﾅ陳ｾ窶堙?渉ｳ窶戳窶堙俄?堙ｦ窶堙ｨﾂ、ﾂ坂?倪?督ｯ窶堙娯?堋ｽ窶堙溪?堙可、ﾂ債ｶ窶堙個坂?佛ｽ窶凪?堙嫁?ﾃ問?堋ｷ窶堙ｩﾂ行ﾋ?冷?堙ｰﾂ行窶堙督。
ﾂ ﾅ停?ｺ窶邸窶ｰﾃｼﾂ青ｳﾂ、窶邸窶板･ﾂ、ﾂ青ｭ窶氾溪?ｹy窶堙堕湘ｰ窶禿ｱ窶堙ｰﾅ津ｶ窶｢z窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ ﾂ坂?倪?ｰﾃｯ窶堙ｰﾂ渉｢ﾂ集窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ ﾂ衆窶ｹc窶ｰ@窶堙ｰ窶ｰﾃｰﾅｽU窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ ﾂ坂?倪?ｰﾃｯ窶ｹcﾋ?ｵ窶堙娯?伉坂?露窶ｹ窶懌?堙固ｽ{ﾂ行窶堙ｰﾅ津ｶﾅｽﾂｦ窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。ﾂ（窶卍青：ﾅｽQ窶ｹc窶ｰ@窶堙坂?敖ｼﾂ絶?昶?突??堙俄?ｰﾃｼ窶露窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堙娯?堙?、ﾅｽ窶毒ｽﾃ?ﾂ湘｣ﾂ、ﾂ衆ﾅｽQ窶板ｼ窶ｰ@窶ｹcﾋ?ｵ窶堙個「窶伉坂?露窶ｹ窶慊」窶堙坂?堋?窶堙ｨ窶慊ｾ窶堙遺?堋｢ﾂ。窶ｹl窶堙懌?堙ｨﾂ、ﾂ「ﾂ坂?倪?ｰﾃｯ窶ｹcﾋ?ｵ窶堙娯?伉坂?露窶ｹ窶慊」窶堙坂?督ｾ窶堙ｧ窶堋ｩ窶堙俄?邸窶板･ﾂ湘｣窶堙固停?｡ﾅ?ﾃ冷?堙??堋?窶堙ｩﾂ）
ﾂ ﾂ坂?倪?督ｱ窶佚･ﾂ臣窶ｹy窶堙鯛?邸窶板･窶堙娯?凖ｨ窶堙溪?堙ｩ窶堋ｻ窶堙娯?伉ｼ窶堙固?ﾂｯ窶披┐窶堙娯?戮窶禿??｢ﾃ?窶堙鯛?堙俄?牢ﾅ陳?ﾋ?鞘?戮ﾂ湘ｳ窶ｹy窶堙鯛?佚･ﾅｽg窶ｹy窶堙打津ｶﾅｽg窶堙個信窶戮ﾂ湘ｳ窶堙ｰ窶戳ﾂ湘倪?堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ 窶佚･ﾅｽﾃ債、窶愿?ｽﾃ債、ﾅ陳ｸﾅ炭ﾂ、ﾅ炭窶堙固ｽﾂｷﾂ行窶堙娯?禿?焦凪?ｹy窶堙鯛?｢ﾅ毒陳?窶堙ｰ窶戳ﾂ湘倪?堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ 窶ｰh窶弋窶堙ｰﾅｽﾃｶ窶膿窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ 窶敕｡ﾂ准ﾂ鞘?倪?ｹy窶堙鯛?邸窶板･窶堙娯?凖ｨ窶堙溪?堙ｩ窶堋ｻ窶堙娯?伉ｼ窶堙固?Oﾅ津ｰ窶｢ﾂｶﾂ鞘?倪?堙ｰ窶戳ﾂ湘倪?堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ ﾅ?Oﾂ坂?倪?堙娯?佚･ﾅｽg窶ｹy窶堙打津ｶﾅｽg窶堙ｰﾂ静塲ｽﾃｳ窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙?。
ﾂ 窶ｹVﾅｽﾂｮ窶堙ｰﾂ行窶堙凪?堋ｱ窶堙?。
 
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