Abe again refrains from expressing war remorse during memorial address

Posted on : 2017-08-16 18:18 KST Modified on : 2017-08-16 18:18 KST
Japanese Prime Minister refuses to acknowledge Japanese culpability in Second World War
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a war memorial service on Aug. 15
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a war memorial service on Aug. 15

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continued a five-year pattern of not mentioning remorse over Japan’s past aggressions during an Aug. 15 memorial service marking the anniversary of the end of World War II.

Speaking at the 72nd national memorial ceremony for Japan’s war dead at the Budokan arena in Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward, Abe stressed that the “horrors of war must not be repeated,” but once again omitted mention of remorse over [Japan’s] responsibility for the war. After a precedent set in 1993 by then-leader Morihiro Hosokawa, memorial addresses by subsequent Japanese prime ministers included mentions of the “immense damage and suffering” Japan caused to people in other Asian countries and expressions of “deep remorse and mourning.”

In contrast, Abe has not included the mentions in any of his memorial ceremony addresses since taking office in 2013. Since 2015, he has simplified the “oath of renunciation of war” made by previous Prime Ministers into a statement that the “horrors of war must not be repeated.”

Emperor Akihito, who also attended the ceremony, delivered remarks that mentioned “remorse,” though not “responsibility.”

“I look back on the path with deep remorse, and I hope that the horrors of war are not repeated in the future,” he said.

The same day, Abe made a ritual cash offering from his own pocket as Liberal Democracy Party (LDP) leader to Yasukuni Shrine – where several Class A war criminals are enshrined – by way of special party leader’s aide Masahiko Shibayama, who quoted Abe as saying he was “sorry not to be able to visit and pay respects” but asking [Shibayama] to “make sure to pay respects there.”

Since visiting the shrine in person in Dec. 2013, Abe has made cash contributions in lieu of visits. Former Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada, who is well known for her far-right views on history, paid respects at Yasukuni the same day, as did 60 members of Minnade Yasukunijinja ni Sanpaisuru Kokkaigiin no Kai, an association of Diet members supporting visits to the shrine.

In response, the South Korean government said it “cannot contain our profound concern that Japan’s responsible leaders continue contributing money and paying respects at Yasukuni, which whitewashes a history of colonial pillaging and wars of invasion.”

Meanwhile, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga responded in a briefing to the placement of comfort women statues on buses by a Seoul city bus company. “This sort of thing could pour cold water on the efforts both sides are making to develop a future-oriented relationship between South Korea and Japan,” he said.

“We are requesting through diplomatic routes that our country’s position be relayed and appropriate response action taken,” he added.

By Cho Ki-weon, Tokyo correspondent and Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

button that move to original korean article (클릭시 원문으로 이동하는 버튼)

Most viewed articles