Many people visited Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of the end of the war, August 15, 2024.
August 15 marked the 79th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War. Japan lost 3.1 million nationals, including army and navy personnel and civilians, in the last war. In Japan, it was known as the Greater East Asian War. I would like to offer my heartfelt prayers that all these souls may rest in peace.
Individuals alive today who heard the radio broadcast by Emperor Showa (Emperor Hirohito) announcing Japan's surrender are few and elderly. Even so, the war remains the greatest tragedy in Japanese history. It is our duty to continue to tell the story of that conflict and offer prayers for peace and repose of the dead.
The war dead were heroes who went to war with a burning desire to protect Japan, their hometowns, and their loved ones. Many of the young people who gave up their lives did not have the opportunity to have children.
Honoring Those Who Sacrificed
It was self-evident to those who went to war that the spirits of those who sacrificed their precious lives would be enshrined forever at Yasukuni Shrine. It was, in a sense, a compact with the nation of Japan. This is an extremely important point to remember.
That, more than anything else, justifies keeping Yasukuni Shrine as the focal point for commemoration of the war dead. There is no reason to acquiesce to the shallow "wisdom" of members of later generations who would have us build a "new national memorial facility."
It is not only those who died in World War II who are honored at Yasukuni Shrine. The souls of those who fell in many other conflicts are also enshrined there. They include those who died to preserve Japan's independence in the Russo-Japanese War 120 years ago.
Shinzo Abe's Model of Respect
The following events occurred around 11 years ago.
In April 2013, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the island of Iwo Jima (Ioto). It was the island that in March 1945 had been the site of one of the fiercest battlefields of the Pacific War. Over 20,000 defenders fought there to the very last.
As he was about to board his plane to go to Chichijima, also in the Ogasawara Archipelago, after inspecting an Air Self-Defense Force base and other sites, Abe did something unexpected. He knelt on the runway, clasped his hands together, bowed his head, and then patted the runway. He no doubt did so because he realized that the bones of some of the war heroes remained underground. Even today, collection of the remains of war dead continues on Iwo Jima, including in the area of the airstrip.
It was clearly not any kind of staged performance aimed at attracting media attention. In fact, the press contingent that had accompanied Abe had already gone on to Chichijima.
Former Joint Staff Chief Katsutoshi Kawano, then-chief of staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, served as Abe's guide. Looking back on that incident, he says, "He was a man who had a deep sense of sympathy for the war dead."
Kishida Should Visit
It is important for political leaders to feel gratitude towards the spirits of the war dead. However, even Abe only visited Yasukuni Shrine once while prime minister. That was in December 2013.
Since then, no serving prime minister has gone to Yasukuni Shrine. Although imperial envoys have been sent to the shrine, the environment is also not yet right for a reigning emperor to go in person. That is no doubt because politicians dread interference from China and South Korea and backlash from left-wing forces, including elements of the media.
It would be deplorable if Japan did not keep its covenant with the spirits of the war dead. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently announced that he does not intend to run for reelection as president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Nevertheless, we would like to see him, as well as members of his Cabinet and politicians aspiring to run in the presidential election, visit the shrine on special occasions — for example, on the anniversary of the end of the war and the annual spring and autumn festivals.
Souls Reposed at Yasukuni
Japan regained its full sovereignty in August 1953. At that time, the Diet unanimously adopted a resolution granting pardons to all prisoners convicted of war crimes.
With the consent of the relevant occupation governments, Japan then released all war crimes prisoners. Among them were those convicted of "Class A" war crimes who had escaped execution. Pensions were also provided to surviving family members of prisoners who had been executed or who had died in prison.
Later, the souls of those individuals executed by the Allied Powers were also enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine.
A Country that Yearns for Peace
Mamoru Shigemitsu served seven years in prison as a Class A war criminal. He was the same man who, as foreign minister in the Cabinet of Hideki Tojo, organized the Greater East Asia Conference in Tokyo in November 1943. It was the world's first summit of non-white nations that advocated for racial equality.
After being pardoned, Shigemtisu was elected to the House of Representatives. He served as deputy prime minister and as foreign minister in the Ichiro Hatoyama government from 1954 to 1956. It was Shigemitsu who delivered the speech when Japan was accepted into the United Nations General Assembly. That speech was broadly applauded by representatives of countries from around the world.
Unfortunately, this course of events is ignored by elements who oppose official visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Instead, they cite grounds such as that Yasukuni enshrines executed "Class A war criminals."
Japan is a democracy that yearns for peace. We urge politicians to prioritize consideration for the spirits of the war dead and surviving members of their families over the demands of countries that view Japan as an enemy.
Commendation for SDF Members
Those who oppose visits to Yasukuni Shrine are also adamant about separating it from the Self-Defense Forces.
Nevertheless, both the Self-Defense Forces and the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy are Japanese military organizations. I would like to see the SDF and its members learn, pass on, and honor the historical facts of the heroic efforts of the war dead who fought desperately to protect their homeland. That would serve to further strengthen the SDF and increase their deterrent power to protect peace.
We now find ourselves in the most severe security environment of the postwar period. Furthermore, it is the common assumption among security officials around the world that a Taiwan or Korean Peninsula emergency could easily turn into a Japan emergency. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, along with the situation in the Middle East, are other destabilizing factors. These, together with the outcome of the United States presidential election, will all profoundly affect Japan's course.
One of the politicians running to be the next LDP president will also become Japan's new prime minister. Those candidates should express their feelings of condolence and honor the fallen heroes. Furthermore, they should also take measures to improve deterrence. All of these are necessary if we are to maintain peace.
RELATED:
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- Yasukuni Shrine, on the Anniversary of the War's End, a Symbol of Reflection
(Read the editorial in Japanese.)
Author: Satoshi Sakakibara, Chief Editorial Writer, The Sankei Shimbun
