Enthusiasm for Imperial Diplomacy

Emperor Akihito for the first time visited Republic of Palau for remembering Japanese victims in World War II. Along with commemoration of the seventieth anniversary from the end of the war, Japanese media enthusiastically reported his visit and warm acceptance of the people in former colony of Japan. Their positive attitude in imperial diplomacy indicated sneaking revisionism in Japanese media organization, driven by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japan Broadcasting Corporation, or NHK, ran highly unusual coverage on Akihito’s visit to Palau. The news occupied top news slot in evening news for three consecutive days before the visit. Smiles of the people in Palau, chanting “arigato” or “kon-nichiwa,” or activities of Japanese veteran’s family group to assist welcoming ceremony appeared on TV screen. It also broadcast the footage of wartime Palau, where a huge number of soldiers died in harsh battle. It is possible that the reports of NHK reflected intention of an authoritarian president, Katsuto Momii, who supports political standpoint of Abe.

Newspapers mostly raised big headlines in the front page on Thursday, which told arrival of Akihito in Palau the evening before. Tokyo Shimbun, known as leftist, inserted transcript of Akihito’s speech at the reception hosted by President of Palau, Tommy Remengesau. “At the past war, intense battle between Japan and United States was taken place in this region including your country and many lives were lost. Although it is said that Japanese military considered safety of your nations and recommended to evacuate to safer places, it was a tragedy for air strike, food shortage or plague caused deaths,” told Akihito.

The main event of the visit was a memorial ceremony in Peleliu Island, where one of the most deadly battles in Pacific warfronts had occurred in 1944. Akihito and Empress Michiko landed on the island with helicopter and offered white flowers of chrysanthemum, a symbol of loyal family, at the war memorial in Thursday morning. NHK reported the event as live footage, intervening its program of discussion in the House of Councillors.

Although Akihito performed as a messenger of peace, the visit inevitably took on a sense of political demonstration. By emphasizing Emperor’s effort of easing bitter memory of the war, Abe can promote his political agenda of forward looking view on history, leaving inconvenient facts in history such as comfort woman behind. Imperial Household Agency welcomes increasing of Emperor’s role without any doubt. People need to be careful of political use of Emperor.