Asia Centre

...on November 18th on the fringes of the APEC Summit. They brought up the Yasukuni visit, and the South Korean President expressed his belief that by their visits to the shrine the Japanese leaders were engaging in acts of "symbolic aggression" against his country. Mr. Koizumi repeated his view that there was no question of glorifying or justifying the last war, but rather through these visits the Japanese leaders and people were voicing their resolve never to make war again, while showing their sorrow for those fallen in combat. For his part, President Hu Jintao refused to hold talks with Mr. Koizumi.[1]

The South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs pointedly declared in talks held with his Japanese counterpart on the 14th that he wished his fellow citizens could believe the Japanese leaders when they voiced their excuses and their regrets.[2] In addition, the Japanese Foreign Minister's visit to China, planned for October 23rd-24th, was cancelled at China's request.

The leader of the Democratic Party, Mr. Maehara, criticised the failure to represent the country's interests shown by these Prime Ministerial visits, and he accused him of standing in the way of any global strategic dialogue with China.[3] Among ordinary members of parliament these visits are creating a great deal of disquiet, even among those close to the Prime Minister. Y. Mori, President of the Japanese-Korean parliamentary league was in Korea on November 10th, where he tried in vain to persuade the South Korean President to visit Japan before the end of the year.[4]

Japanese public opinion is divided over the justification of this visit "in a private capacity". 46% say that they are persuaded by it, and 45% say they are not.[5] According to the same opinion poll, 65% of the respondents were anxious about the effect of such visits on relations with South Korea and China. Another opinion poll showed that 58% of the Japanese believe that the debate over Japanese responsibility for events during the Second World War has been inadequate or very inadequate.[6]

The last "pilgrimage" by Mr. Koizumi occurred shortly after the Osaka court of appeal's decision that these visits were in violation of the constitutional separation of Religion and the State. One hundred and eighty-eight people, including thirteen Taiwanese, were seeking joint damages from the State, from Mr. Koizumi, and from the shrine, for the moral suffering caused by the three visits between 2001 and 2003. In its verdict on September 30th, the court ruled that the Prime Minister was making these visits in his official capacity, and that therefore this essentially religious activity was forbidden under the Constitution; to continue these visits in spite of the criticisms at home and abroad gave the impression that this particular shrine enjoyed special support from the State, which amounted to promoting a specific religion.[7] The court also ruled that there was insufficient hurt to justify damages. This was the first time that an appeals court had handed down a verdict of unconstitutional conduct.

The creation of a memorial to commemorate those who died for the motherland, but without any religious connotations, is the subject of ongoing debate. Mr. Koizumi and Mr. Abe, who seems to be the favourite to succeed him following his nomination as governmental spokesman, are not in favour.[8] Neither is the association of the families of the fallen. The latter is still a lobby carrying considerable weight within the LDP, despite the falling numbers of votes it represents. Mr. Abe has declared that the government would pay careful attention to future developments in public opinion.