Maybe Ozawa challenging Kan ain't so bad after all. I have heard and read some discussion about the debates between Kan and Ozawa being a rare opportunity in Japan. They have certainly been of a different tenor than the arguments heard from the LDP as of late. If one can hear any arguments from the LDP.
Ozawa, who rightly or wrongly has gotten a lot of criticism for being selfish (not only from the media, but from regular voters), has an excerpted interview in Mainichi in which he criticizes the enshrinement of Class A war criminals at Yasukuni and again shows support for voting rights for permanent residents in local elections. He also addresses Futenma, although there is nothing new in what he says about that issue. Basically, it's a problem that need to be solved and requires the involvement of the US government and Okinawan residents:
Concerning Futenma, we have no choice but to come up with a good idea for settling the issue through talks with Okinawa residents and the U.S. government. We can't come up with any idea without talking with them. Mainichi
The excerpts offer nothing new or earth shattering, but one could believe that should Ozawa win, things would still be much better than any current alternative party. Of course the problem is, how will voters react if he become head of the DPJ and prime minister. Folks I talk to are not enthusiastic.
Showing posts with label Yasukuni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yasukuni. Show all posts
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The LDP shows who and what it (still) represents
...On the recent decision of Prime Minister Naoto Kan and all of his Cabinet members not to visit the shrine out of consideration for Asian victims of Japan's past militarism, Tanigaki said, "Each party has its own view." Japan Times
LDP chief Tanigaki will, of course, visit.
PM Kan's recent apology to South Korea for its colonial rule of the country further inflamed some of the right wing of the LDP:
Since Abe's attempt to lead Japan toward a Fujiwara Masahiko influenced Beautiful Country got nowhere, the LDP will now boldly try the same thing over and over. This is a brilliant strategy as sooner or later people will quite worrying about the 2010 economy and their future and focus on reliving the 1900s.
Edited to add: The DPJ could be accused of coming up with this because they seem to have little in the way of (visible) success for improving the economy and the future, but we will look at this as a positive for the party and not a cynical political move as the DPJ is concerned about improving Japan's relations in the region. Unlike the party of Tanigaki/Abe/Mori retrogrouches. Now, about the future...
LDP chief Tanigaki will, of course, visit.
PM Kan's recent apology to South Korea for its colonial rule of the country further inflamed some of the right wing of the LDP:
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the LDP criticized the government's decision, describing Kan and Sengoku as "foolish" and "ignorant" about dealing with historical issues. Japan Times
Since Abe's attempt to lead Japan toward a Fujiwara Masahiko influenced Beautiful Country got nowhere, the LDP will now boldly try the same thing over and over. This is a brilliant strategy as sooner or later people will quite worrying about the 2010 economy and their future and focus on reliving the 1900s.
Edited to add: The DPJ could be accused of coming up with this because they seem to have little in the way of (visible) success for improving the economy and the future, but we will look at this as a positive for the party and not a cynical political move as the DPJ is concerned about improving Japan's relations in the region. Unlike the party of Tanigaki/Abe/Mori retrogrouches. Now, about the future...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Japan's finest in action
Got this link to Max Hodge's photos on flickr via JEANSNOW.NET.
An interesting series of photos showing the Japanese police fighting crime by checking non-Japanese peoples' IDs and working at a Yasukuni demonstration as well as others. His other photos are well worth a look too.
I'm not so sure that I would have the brass to take photos of cops in some of the situations that he does. I can't assume that I have any enforceable rights.
An interesting series of photos showing the Japanese police fighting crime by checking non-Japanese peoples' IDs and working at a Yasukuni demonstration as well as others. His other photos are well worth a look too.
I'm not so sure that I would have the brass to take photos of cops in some of the situations that he does. I can't assume that I have any enforceable rights.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Words of Wisdom?
As usual, the anniversary of Japan's surrender was marked with a number of ceremonies. And, as usual, the right-wingers had a nice gathering at Yasukuni. Even some of Fukuda's cabinet showed up in order to keep thier and the LDP's extreme right credentials in order.
This is nothing new and just goes to show that some of the nutjobs will never change. Fortunately, we have a young generation of non-Japanese (and Japanese) who will put things into the proper touchy-feely, lovey dovey perspective with deep and thoughtful observations:
This is nothing new and just goes to show that some of the nutjobs will never change. Fortunately, we have a young generation of non-Japanese (and Japanese) who will put things into the proper touchy-feely, lovey dovey perspective with deep and thoughtful observations:
All those mistaken foreigners (and the Japanese who marched in anti-Yasukuni protest Friday) should show more patience and tolerance for the rightwingers of Japan who are visiting Yauskuni in innocence and purity.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
On to Yasukuni, Children
The government Friday declared null and void a 1949 state-imposed ban on public schools organizing field trips to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine.
Nothing wrong with that, after all this is a free country. What business does the government have in telling schools and school children what to say, do, or think?
A recent controversy over the shrine focused on a restriction of freedom of expression after some 40 LDP lawmakers held an unprecedented preview of Chinese director Li Ying's award-winning documentary "Yasukuni" in March.
Following the preview, which was widely taken as effective censorship, several cinemas that had initially decided to screen the film canceled it for fear of possible intimidation by rightwingers.
Well, unless one thinks in a way which offends the nutjobs.
Full Japan Times article here.
Nothing wrong with that, after all this is a free country. What business does the government have in telling schools and school children what to say, do, or think?
A recent controversy over the shrine focused on a restriction of freedom of expression after some 40 LDP lawmakers held an unprecedented preview of Chinese director Li Ying's award-winning documentary "Yasukuni" in March.
Following the preview, which was widely taken as effective censorship, several cinemas that had initially decided to screen the film canceled it for fear of possible intimidation by rightwingers.
Well, unless one thinks in a way which offends the nutjobs.
Full Japan Times article here.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Nutjob Watch: Mixed reactions for Yasukuni
A special preview of the film Yasukuni was provided yesterday for groups of rightwingers in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Some of the fine fellows were miffed and wanted the film banned:
... the movie should not be shown in Japan because it would give the impression that the war Japan waged was an act of aggression.
My god no! Everyone knows that it was a war of compassion. Even the recent beating of young Japanese protesters by rightwingers at Yasukuni as shown in the film was an act of kindness.
Others were less enthusiastic about censoring free speech:
"Let many people see this film. . . . We need to let people know such an anti-Japanese film was produced with their tax money said an executive of a rightwing group.
We do not know (yet) if any LDP politicians were there to stir things up.
Article by Takahiro Fukuda at at The Japan Times Online.
... the movie should not be shown in Japan because it would give the impression that the war Japan waged was an act of aggression.
My god no! Everyone knows that it was a war of compassion. Even the recent beating of young Japanese protesters by rightwingers at Yasukuni as shown in the film was an act of kindness.
Others were less enthusiastic about censoring free speech:
"Let many people see this film. . . . We need to let people know such an anti-Japanese film was produced with their tax money said an executive of a rightwing group.
We do not know (yet) if any LDP politicians were there to stir things up.
Article by Takahiro Fukuda at at The Japan Times Online.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
The extreme right and its LDP enablers
Japan Focus has an article expanding on the Japan Times version's coverage of right-wing atrocity deniers in the LDP and their connection with the most extreme right groups and thugs in Japan. Most recently, they have tried to shut down the screening of the film Yasukuni while at the same time denying that they want to shut it down:
In a now familiar pattern, ultra-nationalists who follow in the shadow of establishment politicians, threatened retribution against anyone who handled the movie. Anonymous bloggers posted contact details for the distribution company, the Japan Arts Council and every theatre showing it. Anonymous death threats have been issued against Dragon Films, the company that produced "Yasukuni."
The burying of Li’s film follows a string of similar incidents. In February, Tokyo’s Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa cancelled a conference by the Japan Teacher’s Union – a popular ultra-right target -- after learning that 100 right-wing sound trucks turned up to last year’s conference venue. The hotel’s decision has been bitterly attacked by union officials. Fear of intimidation ensures that there are still no Japan screenings planned for any of the dozen or so foreign movies made to commemorate the anniversary of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre by the Imperial Japanese Army. (And remember former PM Abe's role in quashing a NHK program concerning "comfort women.")
“My sense is that we have entered a very dangerous period for freedom of expression and press freedom in this country,” says Tajima Yasuhiko, a professor of journalism in Tokyo’s Sophia University. “That is the background to these cases. The idea that people are entitled to express different opinions and views is withering."
...we felt we had no choice after considering the safety of our customers,” explains...a spokesman for Q-AX Cinema in Shibuya. But Director Li rejects these claims and says only political pressure explains the sudden decision by all four Tokyo cinemas to pull the plug. Full article here.
Noooooooooooo. This can't be. It's alarmist. Everyone knows that Japan is a different country than it was before WW2. OK, that is obviously true, but how different? How deep does that go? Have these nutjobs of the right-wing changed? How committed to democracy is a country in which the democratic form of government was imposed on it? Yes, there was a short period of the beginnings of democracy before the war--the Taisho Democracy---but it did only lasted a short 5 years.
If the far right and its LDP allies continue to gain influence, what kind of government will Japan have? We keep hearing that the days of the LDP are numbered. Of course we have heard that for 20 years. Let's hope this time that the beginning of a real two party system in Japan is not just another fantasy like it has been in the past.
In a now familiar pattern, ultra-nationalists who follow in the shadow of establishment politicians, threatened retribution against anyone who handled the movie. Anonymous bloggers posted contact details for the distribution company, the Japan Arts Council and every theatre showing it. Anonymous death threats have been issued against Dragon Films, the company that produced "Yasukuni."
The burying of Li’s film follows a string of similar incidents. In February, Tokyo’s Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa cancelled a conference by the Japan Teacher’s Union – a popular ultra-right target -- after learning that 100 right-wing sound trucks turned up to last year’s conference venue. The hotel’s decision has been bitterly attacked by union officials. Fear of intimidation ensures that there are still no Japan screenings planned for any of the dozen or so foreign movies made to commemorate the anniversary of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre by the Imperial Japanese Army. (And remember former PM Abe's role in quashing a NHK program concerning "comfort women.")
“My sense is that we have entered a very dangerous period for freedom of expression and press freedom in this country,” says Tajima Yasuhiko, a professor of journalism in Tokyo’s Sophia University. “That is the background to these cases. The idea that people are entitled to express different opinions and views is withering."
...we felt we had no choice after considering the safety of our customers,” explains...a spokesman for Q-AX Cinema in Shibuya. But Director Li rejects these claims and says only political pressure explains the sudden decision by all four Tokyo cinemas to pull the plug. Full article here.
Noooooooooooo. This can't be. It's alarmist. Everyone knows that Japan is a different country than it was before WW2. OK, that is obviously true, but how different? How deep does that go? Have these nutjobs of the right-wing changed? How committed to democracy is a country in which the democratic form of government was imposed on it? Yes, there was a short period of the beginnings of democracy before the war--the Taisho Democracy---but it did only lasted a short 5 years.
If the far right and its LDP allies continue to gain influence, what kind of government will Japan have? We keep hearing that the days of the LDP are numbered. Of course we have heard that for 20 years. Let's hope this time that the beginning of a real two party system in Japan is not just another fantasy like it has been in the past.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
The LDP and the thugs of the right
A woman takes the stage and says: "We are committed to rebuilding a proud Japan, where the prime minister can openly worship at Yasukuni. We will devote ourselves to speeding the day when the Emperor too can worship here."
As she rejoins the spectators and the familiar chords of "Kimigayo" groan from the speakers, two young protesters shout anti-Yasukuni slogans. The protesters are hauled away from the stage, beaten by ultra-rightists and chased from the shrine as an enraged old man repeatedly screams at them to "Go back to China." The two men, who are Japanese, are then arrested by the police.
That woman politician was of course Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Tomomi Inada, today widely seen as the main critical force against the movie [Yasukuni] and a leading historical revisionist....
"Politicians know that when they, say, make pronouncements about these issues that we will take action," says Yoshisada Takahashi, who heads a Tokyo-based ultra-nationalist group.
It goes on and on. Abe was a stooge of the right who became Prime Minister. Aso awaits his chance after the more moderate Fukuda. Of course not all of the return-to-the-past rightists are LDP members. Former LDP member and now Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara is another of the rightwing crowd and not only because he dislikes immigrants, women, and about everything else. (See the article to learn just a little more of Ishihara.)
David McNeill has a piece in the Japan Times about the "politicians who flirt with fascists" to attempt to stop the showing of the Li Ying documentary, Yasukuni. That attempt may be failing as at least 20 theaters have decided to show it in spite of the risks. Article here.
Li discusses the film and his reasons for making it here.
...It was a shock. It left me shaking. I couldn't believe it. I felt like I was standing on a battlefield. It was a shock to experience such a scene, here in Japan so many years after the war. That people still feel a sense of honor and pride toward such a scene, it's unthinkable...
Both articles provide a strong refutation of the 2002 Eugene A. Matthews article in the CFR below.
As she rejoins the spectators and the familiar chords of "Kimigayo" groan from the speakers, two young protesters shout anti-Yasukuni slogans. The protesters are hauled away from the stage, beaten by ultra-rightists and chased from the shrine as an enraged old man repeatedly screams at them to "Go back to China." The two men, who are Japanese, are then arrested by the police.
That woman politician was of course Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Tomomi Inada, today widely seen as the main critical force against the movie [Yasukuni] and a leading historical revisionist....
"Politicians know that when they, say, make pronouncements about these issues that we will take action," says Yoshisada Takahashi, who heads a Tokyo-based ultra-nationalist group.
It goes on and on. Abe was a stooge of the right who became Prime Minister. Aso awaits his chance after the more moderate Fukuda. Of course not all of the return-to-the-past rightists are LDP members. Former LDP member and now Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara is another of the rightwing crowd and not only because he dislikes immigrants, women, and about everything else. (See the article to learn just a little more of Ishihara.)
David McNeill has a piece in the Japan Times about the "politicians who flirt with fascists" to attempt to stop the showing of the Li Ying documentary, Yasukuni. That attempt may be failing as at least 20 theaters have decided to show it in spite of the risks. Article here.
Li discusses the film and his reasons for making it here.
...It was a shock. It left me shaking. I couldn't believe it. I felt like I was standing on a battlefield. It was a shock to experience such a scene, here in Japan so many years after the war. That people still feel a sense of honor and pride toward such a scene, it's unthinkable...
Both articles provide a strong refutation of the 2002 Eugene A. Matthews article in the CFR below.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Rightwing nutter victory. Part II
Unfortunately, the April 1 story was not an April Fool's joke:
A campaign of harassment by nationalists has led several cinemas to cancel screenings of an award-winning movie about Yasukuni Shrine, the controversial memorial that venerates Japan's war dead and war criminals alike.
..."We had to give up [on showing the film] because we could not guarantee the safety of our staff."
... many here say officials contributed to the backlash against the film. In March, a group of lawmakers demanded an advance screening of "Yasukuni," ostensibly to determine whether its production was an appropriate use of public finds. LA Times.
The thugs win again. Former PM Abe's "Beautiful Country" fellow travelers are still hard at work. Yes, the crowd that Abe courted with his absurd claims of Japanese military innocence in recruiting and forcing women into sexual slavery during WW2. These groups seem to have an awful lot of power for people who supposedly represent a minority view. Of course the right-wing has been in bed with the LDP since the party's creation. Without the extreme right-wing, would there even be an LDP? By extreme right, I mean the emperor worshiping, war crime deniers.
A campaign of harassment by nationalists has led several cinemas to cancel screenings of an award-winning movie about Yasukuni Shrine, the controversial memorial that venerates Japan's war dead and war criminals alike.
..."We had to give up [on showing the film] because we could not guarantee the safety of our staff."
... many here say officials contributed to the backlash against the film. In March, a group of lawmakers demanded an advance screening of "Yasukuni," ostensibly to determine whether its production was an appropriate use of public finds. LA Times.
The thugs win again. Former PM Abe's "Beautiful Country" fellow travelers are still hard at work. Yes, the crowd that Abe courted with his absurd claims of Japanese military innocence in recruiting and forcing women into sexual slavery during WW2. These groups seem to have an awful lot of power for people who supposedly represent a minority view. Of course the right-wing has been in bed with the LDP since the party's creation. Without the extreme right-wing, would there even be an LDP? By extreme right, I mean the emperor worshiping, war crime deniers.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Friday, October 12, 2007
Former Ambassador wants Fukuda to visit Yasukuni
Hisahiko Okazaki, the former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, thinks Fukuda could resolve the Yasukuni shrine problem with China by visiting. No, it is not April 1. Yes, he seems to be serious. No, he has not found work as a clown. (Oops...sorry cheap shots.)
Since Fukuda is not a right wing nut ball like I'm-tired-so-I-quit Abe, Okazaki thinks it would be Nixon-like (referring to Nixon, a conservative being able to go to China, Fukuda by not being a right winger, pull a similar trick. Apparently, Okazaki's standard of judging the diplomatic success of such a visit would be based on whether or not there were violent, wide-scale protests in China. Simple as that.
You can check out Okazaki's "logic" (but remember, the neo-bushidoist Fujiwara Masahiko suggests logic is pretty unreliable anyway since he himself has none) in an opinion piece in The Japan Times here.
A quick Google search will display many results for Okazaki. His is a right winger who has been after Yasukuni visits for years. In fact, he designed some of the displays there. (Read more here.) I thought I recognized his name. Another revisionist. They're baaaackkk! The nutjobs aren't and never, ever will be done until they get Japan into another disaster.
Since Fukuda is not a right wing nut ball like I'm-tired-so-I-quit Abe, Okazaki thinks it would be Nixon-like (referring to Nixon, a conservative being able to go to China, Fukuda by not being a right winger, pull a similar trick. Apparently, Okazaki's standard of judging the diplomatic success of such a visit would be based on whether or not there were violent, wide-scale protests in China. Simple as that.
You can check out Okazaki's "logic" (but remember, the neo-bushidoist Fujiwara Masahiko suggests logic is pretty unreliable anyway since he himself has none) in an opinion piece in The Japan Times here.
A quick Google search will display many results for Okazaki. His is a right winger who has been after Yasukuni visits for years. In fact, he designed some of the displays there. (Read more here.) I thought I recognized his name. Another revisionist. They're baaaackkk! The nutjobs aren't and never, ever will be done until they get Japan into another disaster.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Nutjob gives Abe the finger
The police arrested an extremist on Thursday, accused of sending his severed finger to the governing party to protest Mr. Abe’s absence from a shrine...
From the New York Times at the bottom of the article, Japanese Leader Hails Indians... about Abe's trip to India.
The shrine was, of course, Yasukuni.
From the New York Times at the bottom of the article, Japanese Leader Hails Indians... about Abe's trip to India.
The shrine was, of course, Yasukuni.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Why were Class A war criminals enshrined in Yasukuni?
Was it simply to enshrine those who died in combat for Japan? Just to provide a place for their souls? Or were there calculated political reasons?
Akiko Takenaka of the University of Michigan, who is currently working on a book about the history and politics of the shrine, has written an article for Japan Focus which provides an answer straight from the mouth of the guy who decided to do it.
...new Yasukuni head priest Matsudaira Nagayoshi in July 1978, following the death of head priest Tsukuba Fujimaro, who had strongly opposed the enshrinement of Class-A criminals. Shortly after his appointment, Matsudaira, who had publicly called for reversing the verdicts of the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal to restore Japan’s national spirit, added the war criminals’ names to the already completed list of names that were to be enshrined during the fall 1978 ceremony. Matsudaira’s eagerness to enshrine the fourteen is demonstrated in his later comment reflecting back on the enshrinement as “the one act of my entire life that I can be proud of.” He went on to explain that he had proceeded with the enshrinement as a way to discredit the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal. Read the full article here at Japan Focus.
She also covers the connection between the shrine and the LDP, along with it's connection the the LDP's attempt to revise the constitution and revise the history of WW2.
Akiko Takenaka of the University of Michigan, who is currently working on a book about the history and politics of the shrine, has written an article for Japan Focus which provides an answer straight from the mouth of the guy who decided to do it.
...new Yasukuni head priest Matsudaira Nagayoshi in July 1978, following the death of head priest Tsukuba Fujimaro, who had strongly opposed the enshrinement of Class-A criminals. Shortly after his appointment, Matsudaira, who had publicly called for reversing the verdicts of the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal to restore Japan’s national spirit, added the war criminals’ names to the already completed list of names that were to be enshrined during the fall 1978 ceremony. Matsudaira’s eagerness to enshrine the fourteen is demonstrated in his later comment reflecting back on the enshrinement as “the one act of my entire life that I can be proud of.” He went on to explain that he had proceeded with the enshrinement as a way to discredit the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal. Read the full article here at Japan Focus.
She also covers the connection between the shrine and the LDP, along with it's connection the the LDP's attempt to revise the constitution and revise the history of WW2.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Abe and his extremism
Koichi Kato , a politician, whose house was burned to the ground by a right-winger last summer because he opposed visits by prime ministers to Yasukuni, described just how extreme Abe's view were in an interview last summer. He knew Abe did not really accept that Japan had done any special wrong in WW2.
You can read the article HERE
You can read the article HERE
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Screw You World, the Truth from Japan about WW2
From: Telling the Truth at Yasukuni
My primary objective in modifying the exhibits is to protect the intellectual integrity (???!!!) of Yasukuni Shrine...I did not think it would be proper to take into consideration the opinions of certain other countries. (There are no facts, just opinions. I agree. The USA did not firebomb Tokyo or use atomic weapons against Japan. Never happened. It is just lies, propaganda, and biased opinions.)
...It is a historical fact that Roosevelt induced Japan to carry out a first strike...(poor Japan. Had no choice. Could not resist. Could not cease killing Chinese. Victim again.)
...Northern China operations: The threshold of the Japan-China war was the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937. At the same time the Japanese government was trying to resolve this incident peacefully, the Guanganmen Incident and the Second Shanghai Incident took place... It is a historical fact that all three incidents were the result of Chinese provocation. (Emphasis mine) I will not yield on this point...
...It was true that since the Xian Incident in the beginning of 1937, Kuomintang-Communist collaboration against Japan gained momentum and resulted in a number of incidents initiated by the Chinese (emphasis mine) around the time the war started...(those pesky Chinese, victimizing the poor, misunderstood, peace-loving Japanese Imperial Army in China)
Regarding the so-called Nanjing Massacre, I paid serious attention to original text that depicted only events that were supported by historical facts. It would impair the intellectual integrity of Yasukuni Shrine if we added more modifications out of consideration to other countries' responses, because doing so might simply stem from secondhand evidence and propaganda-like assertions. (Note the use of "so-called." Nanjing did not happen! A myth just like the "so-called" Holocost by Japan's WW2 allies, the Nazis! Japan is neutral. No propaganda or manipulated evidence here!)
Note that Okazaki had no problem going beyond original material if he could cite it for support, such as Kissinger's book which sort made a claim somewhat in the direction that Okazaki could use to cite as support.
So, is Japan really sorry for anything it did in WW2, or is it a victim? One gets more of a sense of victimhood for some reason. Can't understand why nobody believe Japan's sincerity when it says it regrets some bad things which it may have done in WW2 but didn't really do or was forced to do by evil outsiders and foreigners.
The Honorable Hisahiko Okazaki-sama wrote in the 23 February 2007 Japan Times about his involvement in redoing some of the wonderfully historically accurate work at the Yasukuni shrine, home of numerous Class A war criminals who are not really considered criminals in Japan.
My primary objective in modifying the exhibits is to protect the intellectual integrity (???!!!) of Yasukuni Shrine...I did not think it would be proper to take into consideration the opinions of certain other countries. (There are no facts, just opinions. I agree. The USA did not firebomb Tokyo or use atomic weapons against Japan. Never happened. It is just lies, propaganda, and biased opinions.)
...It is a historical fact that Roosevelt induced Japan to carry out a first strike...(poor Japan. Had no choice. Could not resist. Could not cease killing Chinese. Victim again.)
...Northern China operations: The threshold of the Japan-China war was the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in 1937. At the same time the Japanese government was trying to resolve this incident peacefully, the Guanganmen Incident and the Second Shanghai Incident took place... It is a historical fact that all three incidents were the result of Chinese provocation. (Emphasis mine) I will not yield on this point...
...It was true that since the Xian Incident in the beginning of 1937, Kuomintang-Communist collaboration against Japan gained momentum and resulted in a number of incidents initiated by the Chinese (emphasis mine) around the time the war started...(those pesky Chinese, victimizing the poor, misunderstood, peace-loving Japanese Imperial Army in China)
Regarding the so-called Nanjing Massacre, I paid serious attention to original text that depicted only events that were supported by historical facts. It would impair the intellectual integrity of Yasukuni Shrine if we added more modifications out of consideration to other countries' responses, because doing so might simply stem from secondhand evidence and propaganda-like assertions. (Note the use of "so-called." Nanjing did not happen! A myth just like the "so-called" Holocost by Japan's WW2 allies, the Nazis! Japan is neutral. No propaganda or manipulated evidence here!)
Note that Okazaki had no problem going beyond original material if he could cite it for support, such as Kissinger's book which sort made a claim somewhat in the direction that Okazaki could use to cite as support.
So, is Japan really sorry for anything it did in WW2, or is it a victim? One gets more of a sense of victimhood for some reason. Can't understand why nobody believe Japan's sincerity when it says it regrets some bad things which it may have done in WW2 but didn't really do or was forced to do by evil outsiders and foreigners.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Return to Yasukuni
Sooner or later. The LDP had a convention praising Abe and his reforms of the education laws to force feed patriotism to children.
Abe told the 74th LDP convention that his government built the foundation last year to create a "beautiful nation" with the passage of several bills. They include controversial revisions to the Fundamental Law of Education, requiring schools to instill a sense of patriotism in students.
The party also adopted the position that its members would continue to visit Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine, a major bone of contention with China and South Korea.
and
Abe wants the key campaign issue to be revising the Constitution."The Constitution is the framework, the shape of the nation, and based on the spirit behind the foundation of the (LDP), I would like to go after revising the Constitution," Abe said.
Others are bit concerned that Abe and his ilk are a real threat to democracy.
According to this story, one result of some of the right-wing nutjob education reforms has resulted in what has been called by teachers as a sort of loyalty test. (Ruled unconstitutional by the Tokyo District Court, but Shitaro "Blinky" Ishara's administration is appealing. Sorry, I meant Shintaro.)
Speaking of Blinky, he is on track for his 3rd term as Tokyo governor. It appears that the citizens of Tokyo support, or at least do not reject, his racism. What does that say about Tokyo voters?
Abe told the 74th LDP convention that his government built the foundation last year to create a "beautiful nation" with the passage of several bills. They include controversial revisions to the Fundamental Law of Education, requiring schools to instill a sense of patriotism in students.
The party also adopted the position that its members would continue to visit Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine, a major bone of contention with China and South Korea.
and
Abe wants the key campaign issue to be revising the Constitution."The Constitution is the framework, the shape of the nation, and based on the spirit behind the foundation of the (LDP), I would like to go after revising the Constitution," Abe said.
Others are bit concerned that Abe and his ilk are a real threat to democracy.
According to this story, one result of some of the right-wing nutjob education reforms has resulted in what has been called by teachers as a sort of loyalty test. (Ruled unconstitutional by the Tokyo District Court, but Shitaro "Blinky" Ishara's administration is appealing. Sorry, I meant Shintaro.)
Speaking of Blinky, he is on track for his 3rd term as Tokyo governor. It appears that the citizens of Tokyo support, or at least do not reject, his racism. What does that say about Tokyo voters?
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Why do so many doubt Japan's sincerity?
Perhaps the guy saying this is an extreme example, but he a a veteran of WW2. Whereas many vets renounced the war and Japan's part in it, this guy follows the rightwing view of history. That is: Japan did nothing wrong in WW2. It was fighting imperialism and was tricked and forced into the war by American, Britain, China and the Dutch. East Indies. This is NOT a rare view, and as Abe, Fujiwara et. al. seem to desire, an increasingly common one. It seems to be acceptable for the rest of the world too. The US won't say anything as long as the Japanese government at least pretends to go along with whatever the US does; China in actuality isn't going to say much as long as Abe doesn't visit Yasukuni, and no other country will react either. So the Japanese version of history is about to become accepted. That version is that Japan was the primary victim of the war and its aftermath.
The old vet said:
You can read the full article HERE.
The old vet said:
History is written by the victors. Since the end of WWII, the Japanese history taught in our schools has been based on a U.S. program to promote war guilt and on left-wing propaganda. I don't blame the United States for this. They wanted a weak Japan, and their mission is accomplished; Japanese educated after the war do not have any confidence in their culture or in themselves.
Japan was forced to participate in WWII. The ABCD Powers (America, Britain, China and the Dutch East Indies) imposed such strong sanctions on Japan that we had no way to import oil, steel or anything. We were going to die or we were going to be invaded and enslaved.
Sound a lot like Fujiwara Masahiko? Yes, but even he thinks the Japanese invasion of China was wrong. However, this is the "pride" that Fujiwara, Abe, et. al hope to restore in Japan. Some would argue that it has never left, but it was just not as openly and aggressively pushed. Yes, Edwin Reischauer, Japan just suddenly made a complete and total change after WW2. Right back to the path of a open liberal democracy that it was heading for before the Americans forced them to invade and colonize China and attack Pearl Harbor. Naturally the colonization of China was necessary to fight European colonization of China. Fighting imperialism with imperialism. (Probably why the Chinese are so grateful. Filipinos naturally loved the Japanese soldiers like this one too.) Oh, please don't mention the fact that Japan colonized Korea nearly 40 years before they were forced into WW2. That would cause confusion. Anyway, the Koreans invited them, but have now become ungrateful.You can read the full article HERE.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Abe: War criminals are not war criminals
We are beginning to see how Abe et. al. plan to instill pride in Japan's past (WW2) and get a hint of what the future holds.
Yesterday, Abe said that the 14 class A war criminals enshrined in Yasukuni shrine are not war criminals under Japanese law. (The total number of war criminals is 1068) See the Japan Times. The Tokyo War Crimes tribunal certainly had some serious problems, but Abe seems to be saying that the folks directly guilty for such things as Nanjing and other atrocities are not really criminals as far as he and Japan is concerned.
He is being honest. Unlike its World War Two ally, Germany, Japan has NEVER pursued nor prosecuted a Japanese for war crimes which occurred in WW2. The trial is often viewed like Abe views it, victor's justice forced upon Japan. Additionally, there is a feeling---or even outright belief---that Japan was a victim of the war.
All this is to make Japan a "normal" country again. A normal country with a uniquely unique culture that non-Japanese can never understand---and certainly can not be a part of. A normal country even though it is the only country in the world with four seasons. ( One of the bizarre and arrogant nihonjinron beliefs in Japan.) A normal country where everything that happens has a cultural explanation. There are no economic reasons nor other reasons for anything in Japan.
Think about what Abe's statement means. It's long been taught---and accepted---that the Emperor Hirohito and his subjects were tricked and misled into WWII by the military and its leaders, as well as selfish politicians. Like Hirohito, the people were naive and innocent. They done had no idear! Now Abe is saying that the war criminals were not really criminals, so basically no Japanese did anything wrong in the war. At least no Japanese was responsible for any war crimes. Nanjing? Bygones. Forget it. Couldn't be helped. Exaggerated Chinese lies anyway.
This is the renewed pride we can look forward to. As far as the other part of cultural pride, why would the Japanese need more? All one hears about is the wonderful, uniquely unique Japanese culture, seasons, language, food, Unit 731---oops! Scratch the last. Nobody was responsible for it---at least no Japanese. Perhaps it was an evil foreigner.
Yesterday, Abe said that the 14 class A war criminals enshrined in Yasukuni shrine are not war criminals under Japanese law. (The total number of war criminals is 1068) See the Japan Times. The Tokyo War Crimes tribunal certainly had some serious problems, but Abe seems to be saying that the folks directly guilty for such things as Nanjing and other atrocities are not really criminals as far as he and Japan is concerned.
He is being honest. Unlike its World War Two ally, Germany, Japan has NEVER pursued nor prosecuted a Japanese for war crimes which occurred in WW2. The trial is often viewed like Abe views it, victor's justice forced upon Japan. Additionally, there is a feeling---or even outright belief---that Japan was a victim of the war.
All this is to make Japan a "normal" country again. A normal country with a uniquely unique culture that non-Japanese can never understand---and certainly can not be a part of. A normal country even though it is the only country in the world with four seasons. ( One of the bizarre and arrogant nihonjinron beliefs in Japan.) A normal country where everything that happens has a cultural explanation. There are no economic reasons nor other reasons for anything in Japan.
Think about what Abe's statement means. It's long been taught---and accepted---that the Emperor Hirohito and his subjects were tricked and misled into WWII by the military and its leaders, as well as selfish politicians. Like Hirohito, the people were naive and innocent. They done had no idear! Now Abe is saying that the war criminals were not really criminals, so basically no Japanese did anything wrong in the war. At least no Japanese was responsible for any war crimes. Nanjing? Bygones. Forget it. Couldn't be helped. Exaggerated Chinese lies anyway.
This is the renewed pride we can look forward to. As far as the other part of cultural pride, why would the Japanese need more? All one hears about is the wonderful, uniquely unique Japanese culture, seasons, language, food, Unit 731---oops! Scratch the last. Nobody was responsible for it---at least no Japanese. Perhaps it was an evil foreigner.
Friday, September 29, 2006
LA Times on Abe
It seems they have noticed that some believe that there could possibly be a "virulent form of nationalism" in the lovely, wonderful, uniquely peace-loving Japan. This would be at odds with the" Japan is wonderful" Japan explainers. I am sure it is all a mistake.
If this article is accurate, then the questions about whether or not Abe would continue Koizumi's economic reforms seem to have an answer---no. Apparently, the focus of the LDP is going to be to revive "national pride" in Japan. So I suppose the foreign policy will emphasize Japan's self-interests over international interests. That is normal, but seeing how Japan managed to offend all of its neighbors in northeast Asia over visits to the Yasukuni shrine for no reason except to revive pride in Japan's past (WWII), I believe we can get an idea on what issues are important to Japan, and where it will head. (Notice that the LDP supporters of Abe claim that the older generation was brainwashed in school about Japan's past. The older generation were the people who lived through the war, fought the war, and have first-hand experience with it and the events leading up to it. They didn't learn about it in school, like Abe et.al. did. They lived it. Who do you think is more likely to be correct on Japan's actions/errors in that period?)
Maybe he can pull it off, and Japan will finally become a "normal country." It will do so without really examining its actions in WWII, but let's face the facts---examining its actions ain't gonna happen. Maybe he can pull it off without continuing to anger Japan's neighbors. Maybe he can do it without instilling the wareware nihonjin spirit which seems to set Japan both above and apart from the rest of humanity. May he can do it while allied with the U.S. while not becoming more and more isolated and hated like the U.S. and not getting involved in U.S. mistakes. Shall we take bets?
It is certainly an interesting time to be living in Japan and watching this.
See the article HERE.
If this article is accurate, then the questions about whether or not Abe would continue Koizumi's economic reforms seem to have an answer---no. Apparently, the focus of the LDP is going to be to revive "national pride" in Japan. So I suppose the foreign policy will emphasize Japan's self-interests over international interests. That is normal, but seeing how Japan managed to offend all of its neighbors in northeast Asia over visits to the Yasukuni shrine for no reason except to revive pride in Japan's past (WWII), I believe we can get an idea on what issues are important to Japan, and where it will head. (Notice that the LDP supporters of Abe claim that the older generation was brainwashed in school about Japan's past. The older generation were the people who lived through the war, fought the war, and have first-hand experience with it and the events leading up to it. They didn't learn about it in school, like Abe et.al. did. They lived it. Who do you think is more likely to be correct on Japan's actions/errors in that period?)
Maybe he can pull it off, and Japan will finally become a "normal country." It will do so without really examining its actions in WWII, but let's face the facts---examining its actions ain't gonna happen. Maybe he can pull it off without continuing to anger Japan's neighbors. Maybe he can do it without instilling the wareware nihonjin spirit which seems to set Japan both above and apart from the rest of humanity. May he can do it while allied with the U.S. while not becoming more and more isolated and hated like the U.S. and not getting involved in U.S. mistakes. Shall we take bets?
It is certainly an interesting time to be living in Japan and watching this.
See the article HERE.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The Future Under Abe
It is an interesting time to be living in Japan---perhaps even more interesting than to be here during the "bubble economy" years as Japan began to believe the popular US myth that it really was destined to become the top economic power in the world and started to act with the arrogance than goes with that position. (Arrogance increased even more by the fact that Japan is a hierarchical society in which those of lower status must bow to their superiors. Or at least grovel a little.)
As we can see, nationalist sentiment is increasing and has been for years. The difference is that it is no longer hidden beneath the surface. It's pretty obvious to anyone living here and paying attention to what is really going on (not believing the sugarcoated version of Japan).
Shinzo Abe, probably the most nationalistic PM that Japan has had for years---possibly since WWII is poised to become prime minister. Abe plans to rewrite the Japanese constitution to allow a more assertive use of military force, has supported Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni shrine, suggested a pre-emptive strike against North Korea was legal, has supported schools texts which play down Japanese atrocities during WWII, denies that Japanese troops forced women into sexual slavery during the war, and seems to follow the rightwingers down the line.
Obviously, Japan has to join the real world and admit to having a military and give its military the legal authority to act as a military. It has to become involved in diplomacy in ways other than simply "buying" its way through every crisis. It has to quit leeching off of the US for its own good and certainly for the good of the USA. (Why are we keeping so many troops here again? If there were a war and Americans were dying in battle to defend Japan, the Japanese military is very restricted in any assistance it could give American troops. US ship sinking in combat? The Japanese Navy cannot come to its aid legally.)
The real question is, after seeing Japan's great diplomatic success of the last few years of angering all of its neighbors over Yasukuni for no obvious reason other than self-centered self-righteousness, where will Abe lead this aging society? And how? Where is the money for the military going to come from as social programs become more stressed, and the work force ages? Will Japan continue to anger and alienate simply to pretend it did no wrong in WWII (while claiming it has sincerely apologized) and to insist that its prime minister's visits to a Swhinto shrine which houses convicted war criminals is an internal issue? (Abe doesn't seem to accept verdicts of the Tokyo war crimes trial anyway. In fact, he seems to believe Japans actions in WWII benefited Asia.)
Peaceful Japan, its military defense provided by Uncle Sam, (which allowed it to be "peaceful" and keep a pacifist constitution) its diplomacy handled by the US, or at least cover given to it by the US, is quickly disappearing. We have heard for decades on how the war years were just a diversion from Japan's march to democracy, how Japan suddenly, completely changed into a different country with different peaceful, passive beliefs (well, all the "good" traditions remained") and now we will get to see how true this stuff was.
NPR audio here.
As we can see, nationalist sentiment is increasing and has been for years. The difference is that it is no longer hidden beneath the surface. It's pretty obvious to anyone living here and paying attention to what is really going on (not believing the sugarcoated version of Japan).
Shinzo Abe, probably the most nationalistic PM that Japan has had for years---possibly since WWII is poised to become prime minister. Abe plans to rewrite the Japanese constitution to allow a more assertive use of military force, has supported Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni shrine, suggested a pre-emptive strike against North Korea was legal, has supported schools texts which play down Japanese atrocities during WWII, denies that Japanese troops forced women into sexual slavery during the war, and seems to follow the rightwingers down the line.
Obviously, Japan has to join the real world and admit to having a military and give its military the legal authority to act as a military. It has to become involved in diplomacy in ways other than simply "buying" its way through every crisis. It has to quit leeching off of the US for its own good and certainly for the good of the USA. (Why are we keeping so many troops here again? If there were a war and Americans were dying in battle to defend Japan, the Japanese military is very restricted in any assistance it could give American troops. US ship sinking in combat? The Japanese Navy cannot come to its aid legally.)
The real question is, after seeing Japan's great diplomatic success of the last few years of angering all of its neighbors over Yasukuni for no obvious reason other than self-centered self-righteousness, where will Abe lead this aging society? And how? Where is the money for the military going to come from as social programs become more stressed, and the work force ages? Will Japan continue to anger and alienate simply to pretend it did no wrong in WWII (while claiming it has sincerely apologized) and to insist that its prime minister's visits to a Swhinto shrine which houses convicted war criminals is an internal issue? (Abe doesn't seem to accept verdicts of the Tokyo war crimes trial anyway. In fact, he seems to believe Japans actions in WWII benefited Asia.)
Peaceful Japan, its military defense provided by Uncle Sam, (which allowed it to be "peaceful" and keep a pacifist constitution) its diplomacy handled by the US, or at least cover given to it by the US, is quickly disappearing. We have heard for decades on how the war years were just a diversion from Japan's march to democracy, how Japan suddenly, completely changed into a different country with different peaceful, passive beliefs (well, all the "good" traditions remained") and now we will get to see how true this stuff was.
NPR audio here.
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