Japanese PM raises regional tensions with proud pilgrimage to war shrine…

On 15 August 1945, Japan surrendered to allied forces to end WWII. And since then, 15 August has been celebrated throughout Asia as a day of liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Alternatively, as one can well-imagine, this anniversary has been observed with contrite reflection by most Japanese.

Meanwhile, like every other country that has ever engaged in warfare, Japan built a war memorial, the Yasukuni shrine, to honor its 2.5 million war dead. But included amongst those honored there are notorious soldiers who were convicted of war crimes. And, this is why the leaders of China and South Korea, where most of those crimes were committed, have registered official protests every time a Japanese prime minister made his annual pilgrimage.

It is notable, however, that when he paid his respects on five previous occasions, PM Junichiro Koizumi shunned the publicity and provocative symbolism that would have attended doing so on 15 August. Therefore, it came as a surprise when he scheduled this year’s visit on this controversial anniversary; thereby, abandoning the due deference to which, despite their protests, the Chinese and Koreans had become accustomed.

However, no one was surprised yesterday when Koizumi’s slighted neighbors issued their most strident and dire protests to date:

Yet, notwithstanding his imperial posturing, no one expects fallout from this visit to amount to any more than a manageable escalation in the schoolyard row that has been going on between China and Japan for years – over everything for the revisionist history contained in Japanese school books to fighting political-proxy wars to wield greater influence on the world stage (especially at the UN).

Although Japan’s war veterans and unreconstructed imperialists can finally enjoy some measure of vindication. After all, they felt Koizumi’s visit was long overdue, since they regard the Yasukuni shrine not as a place to bow in contrition but one to rally around with jingoistic pride.

NOTE: People continually express bewilderment that China and South Korea take umbrage because Japan’s prime ministers pay homage to their war dead. But, even though I recognise their right to do so, I have complete sympathy for the Asians who feel slighted by these visits. And, here’s why:

I consider how Jews and Europeans (especially the Poles) would feel if Chancellors of Germany made annual pilgrimages to a shrine for Germany’s war dead to pay homage to Adolf Hitler and other Nazi war criminals. Because I’m acutely aware that the Japanese committed atrocities against the Chinese and Koreans that rivaled the atrocities the Germans committed against the Jews and other Europeans during World War II?

ENDNOTE: Upon first reading, it would seem this story has finally knocked North Korea’s Kim “Dr Strangelove” Jung-il off the front pages. However, consider this:

The Washinton Post suggests that Koizuma acted so boldly because he no longer fears political repercussion – since his final year in office ends next month. But I submit that he did so to send the message (with America’s blessings) to North Korea (for China’s edification) that Japan will no longer be intimidated by Kim’s reckless use of nuclear threats as a political bargaining chip….

Japanese war memorial, Yasukuni shrine