Many individuals went to Yasukuni Shrine in the Kudanshita district of Tokyo on August 15 to mark the end of World War II. (©Sankei by Hideyuki Matsui)
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, one of the candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP's) presidency, recently appeared on Fuji TV. He floated the idea of separating the "Class A war criminals" enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine from the other war dead whose spirits are honored there.
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East, known as the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal (1946-48), was conducted by the victorious nations in the Greater East Asia War (last war). Fourteen individuals were convicted of major war crimes by the tribunal. Subsequently, their spirits were enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine in 1978.
During the Fuji TV program, Hayashi promoted his idea, saying: "Separation [of the enshrined spirits] would create an environment in which anyone, including members of the Imperial Family, could visit the shrine and place their hands together in prayer without any reservations. That is one of the responsibilities of politics."
There are many reasons for opposing such a separation. First, however, doesn't Hayashi realize that forcing such a separation would tear the Japanese public apart? We strongly urge Hayashi to reconsider his position on this question.
A Shrine of Peace Respecting All War Dead
Yasukuni Shrine is the nation's most important institution for honoring those who died for the sake of their country. It was founded in 1869 by Emperor Meiji, and souls enshrined there date back to the Boshin War (1868-69).
The kami (spirits) enshrined there after the last war were determined by the then-Social Welfare and War Victims' Relief Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. It prepared a list of names and provided it to the shrine. Before Japan's surrender in 1945, the Ministry of the Army and the Ministry of the Navy performed this duty.
Officially, the Great East Asia War only ended in April 1952, when the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect. During the interim Allied Occupation, the victors' military courts convicted many Japanese of war crimes and sentenced them to death or imprisonment.
However, after Japan regained sovereignty, a nationwide campaign calling for the pardon of the "war criminals" collected 40 million signatures. Japan's National Diet also passed multiple resolutions calling for the pardon of all "war criminals." Through negotiations with the Allied Powers, the government additionally achieved the pardon of "war criminals" serving prison sentences.
Thereafter, the Diet amended the Pension Act and the Survivors' Assistance Act to mandate the same care for the surviving families of all "war criminals." It included those who had been executed or who had died in prison, as well as any released "war criminals." Under the law, they received the same treatment and benefits provided to all other former military personnel and their surviving families.
In short, the Japanese government decided not to treat the "war criminals" as criminals under domestic law.
Fulfilling a Nation's Obligations to Its People
Japan's Diet and successive administrations have sought to fulfill their obligations under the law. They have commemorated both the war dead and comrades who lost their lives as a result of military trials conducted by the Allied Powers. The latter are called the "Showa Martyrs." Also, the government supported those incarcerated as a result of the military trials.
Consistent with this treatment, in 1966, the Ministry of Health and Welfare certified a list of those who were sentenced to death for war crimes, including those who were deemed "Class A." Thereafter, those individuals were enshrined together at Yasukuni in 1978.
Hayashi's Bad Idea
Judging the actions taken by our compatriots during the war and honoring their spirits as war dead are two different things. Hayashi's proposal confuses the two and suggests that the spirits of these individuals should be separated from their comrades.
However, confusing the two while relying on the Allied Powers' military trials would amount to tormenting these dead souls in the afterworld. It is unsuitable behavior for Japan.
Additionally, in response to Hayashi's claim, although the Emperor may not personally visit Yasukuni Shrine, visits by imperial envoys continue.
Contradicts Religious Doctrine, Japanese Values
In the past, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and former LDP Secretary-General Makoto Koga also offered separation plans for Yasukuni. However, the Jinja Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines) pointed out that separation of the enshrined kami was not possible in terms of shrine rituals. Consequently, the plan was dropped.
Politically forced separation of the enshrined souls would be an unreasonable act against Shinto doctrine. As such, it would also violate the constitutional right to freedom of religion.
Naturally, China has vehemently criticized the enshrinement of "Class A war criminals."
However, how Japan commemorates its war dead is a domestic issue. Dividing the enshrined souls to accommodate foreign interlopers is out of the question.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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