Tens of thousands of Japanese today visited the controversial Yasoukouni War Monument in to honor the 80th anniversary of its tradition to, while very close from that point, at another event, Emperor Naruhitos expressed his “deep sadness” for this part of the story.
The Sinu Sanctuary of Yasoukouni, in the center of the Japanese capital, is a monument dedicated to all the dead of the wars in Japan – 2.5 million troops killed in the late 19th century – including convicted war criminals.
For this reason, visits to Japanese officials regularly cause rage in countries suffered by the military atrocities of the Japanese, especially China and South Korea.
The last Japanese leader who visited this monument erected in honor of the dead of the war, including those convicted of war crimes by a Allied court after World War II, was Sinzo Abe in 2013.
This year, Agriculture Minister Sinjiro Koizumi, a potential candidate for the prime ministerial post, went to the monument, as he does every August 15, but for the first time as a member of the government. A few hundred meters from the sanctuary, the emperor said he felt “a deep and constant feeling of sadness” in an official speech he spoke with with Empress Masako.
“My thoughts are with the many people who have lost their precious lives in the last war and with their mourning families,” the 65 -year -old emperor said. “Thinking of our past and in mind the feelings of deep regret, I sincerely hope that the catastrophes of war will never be repeated.”
The prime minister promised “to maintain the painful memories of the war … to convey them from generation to generation and seek actions for constant peace”.
Emperor Naruhito, Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, have planned to visit Nagasaki in September to meet the survivors of the devastating individual bomb attack in August 1945 and honor the dead.
China and South Korea have criticized previous visits by Japanese senior officials, who, they say, overlook Tokyo’s war actions and harm diplomatic ties.
At a press conference, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang did not comment immediately to Yassoukouni, but said: “Only by facing the story one can win respect. Only by learning from history one can draw a better future. Only remembering the past can we avoid repeating the same mistakes. We invite Japan to make the right choice. “
China’s embassy in Japan, in a statement, criticized Japanese politicians who visited the monument, saying that the visit was reflecting Japan’s “wrong” attitude towards the history of its aggression.
The South Korean government expressed “deep frustration and regret” for the visit of Japanese officials to the monument and stated that future relations should be built on the basis of the demonstration of remorse by Japan for the mistakes of the past, the Foreign Ministry said.
South Korean President Lee Jae Miung is awaiting Japan on August 23-24 and have a meeting with Prime Minister Sigerou Isiba.
