Difference on Regret

The government of Japan held the ceremony for memorizing 72^nd anniversary from the end of World War II and praying for 3.1 million of war victims. Taking one of a few opportunities for addressing his speech on the past war before his abdication, Emperor Akihito expressed deep regret about the war. Making clear contrast against Emperor, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refused expressing his regret as he had been for years. That difference would send a mixed message to Asian nations.

While the people were focusing on what kind of message Akihito would deliver, he made mostly the same speech as he had done in the previous year. “Hereby reflecting the past, with deep regret, seriously hoping the devastation of war not to be repeated, with all the people, I express condolences from my heart to the people who disappeared in the front line and fell down in devastation of the war,” said Akihito.

In the time of Crown Prince, Akihito raised four memorial days: August 15^th for the War-end Memorial, June 23^rd for end of Battle of Okinawa, August 6^th and 9^th for atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He has been making silent prayer on those days every year. After finishing his speech in the ceremony on Tuesday, Akihito stared at the signpost of victims’ soul on the stage for a while, expressing deep emotion on the outcome of the war.

Speech of Prime Minister was rather cool and dry. “As a nation hating war and respecting peace, our country has been going forward after the war,” said Abe. “Modestly facing history, we will keep this unshaken conviction in any time.” By focusing on the future, Abe avoided referring to regret on the aggression in Asian countries or responsibility of the devastation.

One news of the day was that no Minister of Abe Cabinet visited Yasukuni Shrine, for the first time as Liberal Democratic Party administration since Zenko Suzuki Cabinet in 1980. Frequent visitors such as Seiko Noda, Minister for Internal Affairs, refrained from going to Yasukuni, considering negative impact on neighbor countries like China or Korea. “I apologize not visiting the shrine,” told Abe to his deputy in LDP.

True reason of the patience is not the care for neighbor’s sentiment but political weakness after a bitter defeat in the election of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly last month. Arrogance of unilateral handling of politics, as seen in scheduling of constitutional amendment or not telling much about his old friend involved in a scandal, made Abe indefinite in political decisions. He must have prayed for peace of his administration.