The main reason why China and South Korea opposed visit to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was that it enshrined A-class war criminals, who were responsible for World War II as the leaders of Imperial Japan. Knowing that, Abe sent his personal wish to a ritual service for memorizing ABC-class war criminals. The service was held based on recognition that Tokyo War Tribunal was retaliation of the United Nations. His compassion to those criminals does not care sentiment of Japan’s neighbors at all.
Asahi Shimbun, which had currently been accused as harming
national interest with past wrong reports on comfort woman issue, exclusively
reported that Abe sent a message to a ritual service for Monument for Victims
in Official and Legal Service in Showa Era, located in a headquarters of
Shingon Buddhist Temple in Koyasan, Wakayama. Former officers of Imperial Army
and Self-defense Force have annually been holding the ceremony. Engraved on the
monument are one thousand and one hundred eighty names of victims of war
criminals and who died in custody. Fourteen A-class criminals are among them.
Abe’s message was sent through a legislator elected in the
region and read in the ceremony. “I dedicate my sincere condolence to the souls
of victims in Showa, who made a foundation with their sacrifices for peace and
prosperity of hour nation today,” the massage read. He added his conviction for
his effort to “hope for eternal peace and explore the future for coexistence of
human nature.”
There have been only a few politicians involved in the
ceremony. As former or incumbent Prime Minister, Yoshiro Mori once sent a
message in the name of a legislator. Although an organizer requested attendance
of Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida, he dismissed it. But Abe had sent letters
in 2004 and 2013, too. “We have duties to uphold holy souls and to commemorate
their sentiment to be foundation of our nation,” wrote Abe in the letter last
year.
Abe has some reasons to be compassionate with war criminals.
His grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, was one of the A-class
war criminals. Families of war victims are his one of the biggest supporting
groups. But, the Constitution of Japan strictly prohibits religious activity of
national government. Moreover, upholding war criminals causes further conflict
with neighbor nations that suffered from aggression of imperial Japan. Abe
ignores all those negative impacts when it comes to redeeming honor of war
criminals.
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