Whereas Junichiro Koizumi was a master of international affairs, perhaps even of foreign policy, his successor, Shinzo Abe, is turning out to be the exact opposite. Only a few months in office and he has already ruffled Chinese and Korean feathers.
In my opinion, former Japanese PM Koizumi had the right balance of domestic and foreign policies advocacy. He as well irked China and Korea to no end by annual homage to Yasukuni Shrine. This was, however, a promise he’d made to his constituents. No matter how much diplomatic tension his official visits to the controversial shrine caused, Koizumi stood his ground. This practice was, in Koizumi’s mind, a Japanese — a domestic — matter.
In the international stage, nevertheless, Koizumi shrone bright. He was probably responsible for giving Japan a healthy diplomatic image. Although considered a maverick even among his peers, he has been described as the Lion of Asia (partly, I’m sure, because of his thick mane of hair).
Abe, on the other hand, cannot seem to live up to his predecessor’s legacy. Not by a long shot. He is blatantly conservative and appears ignorant of the strides his country has made in the international diplomatic arena.
After a number of public apologies Japan has officially offered to the victims of his country’s wartime crimes, Abe now purports that their World War II military was blameless. He now asserts that there is no evidence to prove that the Japanese military victimized Chinese and Koreans, known as "comfort women". I am writing this in reaction to an article I read in the Philippine Daily Inquirer ("China condemns use of sex slaves by Japanese military," 7 March 2007). China is making a lot of noise now because of what was announced by the current Japanese PM, who even added that Japan will not apologize.
But… they have apologized already….
There was no mention, however, of Filipino comfort women in that article. Why is that? We should be outraged too! Why is our government not joining the ranks of China and Korea? Is it because we are afraid of offending Japan?
6:44 pm on 12 Mar 2007
In my opinion,
even the fact PM Koizumi visited the shrine can be considered as a well-thought political move. His aim was domestic matter as you said but also deplomatic reactios. He knew the result.
8:29 pm on 12 Mar 2007
hey ichi!
do many japanese feel that koizumi’s visits to yasukuni were unnecessary?
11:09 pm on 12 Mar 2007
oh… nice post…
1:57 pm on 13 Mar 2007
thanks ara!
5:08 pm on 13 Mar 2007
hi blogie. thanks for dropping by my blog. i’ve also just recently discovered your blog through jay rosas (www.jayclopsz.blogspot.com).
and of course thanks for the invitation to the davao blogspace directory. the thing is, i’m not in davao anymore . but of course if this is not a problem i’d be surely glad to join the group.
7:34 pm on 13 Mar 2007
hey girard. if you read the davao blogspace “About” page, it says there that it’s for all davaoeños — it doesn’t matter if you’re not in davao anymore. too bad, though, it’s gonna mean you won’t be able to join the 1st-ever Davao Bloggers Party this 17 march…
5:32 pm on 16 Apr 2007
Belated answer…
Yes.
Many think that way. I’m also one of them.
However,
I think it’s a good thing to visit the shrine to pray for war dead.
I don’t think that Koizumi believes they are war heros, and that is not the reason why he visits.
China and Korea think Japanese people viist the shrine to admire war heros. I don’t think so. They go to the shrine like you visit a grave.
5:55 pm on 30 Apr 2007
@Ichi — Also, it might be helpful to keep in mind that, in Yasukuni Shrine, Korean and Chinese war dead are also buried. Isn’t that right?