14 Aug 10
From the BBC:
A group of far-right politicians from Europe has visited a shrine which honours Japan's war dead, including convicted World War II war criminals.
The politicians, including France's Jean-Marie Le Pen, were invited to Japan by a local far-right group.
Their visit comes on the eve of the 65th anniversary of Japan's surrender.
Visits to Yasukuni shrine, particularly by Japanese leaders, anger other Asian nations who say the memorial glorifies Japan's imperial past.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says Prime Minister Naoto Kan has already made it clear that he will not be going there during his time in office.
Mr Le Pen was joined at the shrine by Adam Walker, a prominent member of the British National Party, and other far-right politicians from countries including Austria, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Romania and Belgium.
"What counts is the will that we had to honour those who have fallen for defending their country, whether they are Japanese, or any soldiers of the world, we have the same respect for them," he told reporters.
When asked about the visit earlier, the 82-year-old earlier responded: "If we talk about war criminals, aren't those who bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki also war criminals?"
Mr Walker said he was there to honour "heroes that have died for their country".
The politicians were invited to Tokyo by the nationalist group Issui-kai, which has denied Japan's war-time atrocities.
They have held two days of talks at a Tokyo hotel on how to co-operate to further their nationalist aims.
Non-European far-right RHP posters might normally see eye to eye with the far-right around the world on things like economics and social issues.
How do they feel about this move by their European counterparts?
What common causes might the European far right, the Japanese far right and North American far right have?
15 Aug 10
Originally posted by AThousandYoungI have real trouble understanding where you come from ATY! I have a son living in Tokyo and a father in law who served in Burma for the British Air Force.
Bitchslappin' Arabs? Maybe not Japan...
They do have a point to some extent; the individual troops did not create policy any more than police do.
While the policy of the Japanese was troubling to say the least, the Japanese military were largely operating outside of political control and often in flagrant breach of it. The countless outrages by soldiers suggest a voluntary acceptance of a cult of violence that is entirely their own responsibility. These guys were not typically serving their sullen and reluctant time; they were living the dream and it was hell.
I have to say that for the British National Party to be associated with this, when so many young British soldiers suffered so horribly in the Far East, demonstrates that they have no positive values beyond the politics of hate. I can't fathom how they win so many votes in this country, except by realizing that there are always foul minds working to destroy what they cannot understand or appreciate and they have support in every country where human beings are psychologically damaged and poisoned.
We are dealing with sick minds. They do not have a point to any extent whatever.
16 Aug 10
1 edit
Japanese cabinet shun controversial Yasukuni shrine
Ministers in Japan's new centre-left government have stayed away from a controversial shrine on the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II.
It is the first time in 25 years that the entire cabinet has stayed away from ceremonies at the Yasukuni shrine.
Government ministers paying respects at the Tokyo shrine, which honours Japan's war dead, including war criminals, have in the past angered Japan's neighbours.
The new DPJ-led government had promised to be more considerate.
Other politicians, including opposition leaders, did attend ceremonies at the Yasukuni shrine.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited a national cemetery in Tokyo before attending a remembrance ceremony with Emperor Akihito, son of wartime Emperor Hirohito.
"We feel deep regret, and we offer our sincere feelings of condolence to those who suffered and their families," Mr Kan said.
The Democratic Party of Japan ousted the conservative Liberal Democratic Party in August last year.
The LDP had held power in Japan for almost the entire post-war era.