Social Sciences
The New York Times
April 23, 2013
Japan?s Unnecessary Nationalism
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Since taking over as Japan?s prime minister in December, Shinzo Abe and his conservative Liberal Democratic Party have been juggling a packed agenda of complicated issues, including reviving the country?s economy, coping with the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and managing prickly relations with neighbors like North Korea. Stirring up extraneous controversy is counterproductive, but that?s exactly what he and his nationalist allies in Parliament have done.
On Tuesday, a group of 168 mostly low-ranking conservative lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo, which honors Japan?s war dead, including several who were executed as war criminals after World War II. It was the largest mass visit by Parliament in recent memory. The Japanese news media said that Mr. Abe didn?t visit the shrine, instead sending a ritual offering, but his deputy prime minister and two other ministers made a pilgrimage there over the weekend. He has a record of defending Japan?s conduct during World War II.
Mr. Abe and his allies know well what a deeply sensitive issue this is for China and South Korea, which suffered under Japan?s 20th-century empire-building and militarism, and the reaction was predictable. On Monday, South Korea canceled a visit to Japan by its foreign minister and China publicly chastised Japan. On Tuesday, tensions were further fueled when Chinese and Japanese boats converged on disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Japan and China both need to work on a peaceful solution to their territorial issues. But it seems especially foolhardy for Japan to inflame hostilities with China and South Korea when all countries need to be working cooperatively to resolve the problems with North Korea and its nuclear program.
Instead of exacerbating historical wounds, Mr. Abe should focus on writing Japan?s future, with an emphasis on improving its long-stagnant economy and enhancing its role as a leading democracy in Asia and beyond.
- The Wall Street Journal, Of All Publications, Reprimands Abe
Abe at Ise Shrine January 5, 2015Abe?s New Year Resolution Honesty about World War II will bolster Japan?s standing in Asia. The Wall Street Journal, Editorial January 8, 2015 East Asia would benefit from improved relations between Japan and South Korea,...
- Japan Urged To Take Pride In Admitting To Troubled Past
On January 12th, Kyodo News interviewed APP member Columbia University Professor Gerald Curtis. He described Japan's ties with China and South Korea as "worrisome," with the "history issue" as an underlying factor. His advice was for Japan to...
- Japan Is Leashed, For Now
East and West, diplomats are puzzeled by the Abe Administration's emphasis on recasting Japan's war history as either defensive or entitled. Some think its source is the Japanese reluctance to speak ill of their ancestors, even if they are war...
- Japan-korean Relations
"With the help of Japan, China, and Manchukuo, the world can be at peace"On Friday afternoon, February 22, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe gave a speech to a hand-selected crowd at CSIS in Washington. He is the grandson of Nobusuke Kishi who was an...
- Ldp Official Wants Review Of War Apologies
Shinzo Abe and Sanae TakaichiThe 1995 Murayama Statement, is Japan only official apology for Japan's war in Asia. It is the only Cabinet-approved apology by Japan. There have been several other official apologies since then, but they are...
Social Sciences
Times echoes American frustration with Japan
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| Masakaki Offering |
April 23, 2013
Japan?s Unnecessary Nationalism
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Since taking over as Japan?s prime minister in December, Shinzo Abe and his conservative Liberal Democratic Party have been juggling a packed agenda of complicated issues, including reviving the country?s economy, coping with the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and managing prickly relations with neighbors like North Korea. Stirring up extraneous controversy is counterproductive, but that?s exactly what he and his nationalist allies in Parliament have done.
On Tuesday, a group of 168 mostly low-ranking conservative lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo, which honors Japan?s war dead, including several who were executed as war criminals after World War II. It was the largest mass visit by Parliament in recent memory. The Japanese news media said that Mr. Abe didn?t visit the shrine, instead sending a ritual offering, but his deputy prime minister and two other ministers made a pilgrimage there over the weekend. He has a record of defending Japan?s conduct during World War II.
Mr. Abe and his allies know well what a deeply sensitive issue this is for China and South Korea, which suffered under Japan?s 20th-century empire-building and militarism, and the reaction was predictable. On Monday, South Korea canceled a visit to Japan by its foreign minister and China publicly chastised Japan. On Tuesday, tensions were further fueled when Chinese and Japanese boats converged on disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Japan and China both need to work on a peaceful solution to their territorial issues. But it seems especially foolhardy for Japan to inflame hostilities with China and South Korea when all countries need to be working cooperatively to resolve the problems with North Korea and its nuclear program.
Instead of exacerbating historical wounds, Mr. Abe should focus on writing Japan?s future, with an emphasis on improving its long-stagnant economy and enhancing its role as a leading democracy in Asia and beyond.
- The Wall Street Journal, Of All Publications, Reprimands Abe
Abe at Ise Shrine January 5, 2015Abe?s New Year Resolution Honesty about World War II will bolster Japan?s standing in Asia. The Wall Street Journal, Editorial January 8, 2015 East Asia would benefit from improved relations between Japan and South Korea,...
- Japan Urged To Take Pride In Admitting To Troubled Past
On January 12th, Kyodo News interviewed APP member Columbia University Professor Gerald Curtis. He described Japan's ties with China and South Korea as "worrisome," with the "history issue" as an underlying factor. His advice was for Japan to...
- Japan Is Leashed, For Now
East and West, diplomats are puzzeled by the Abe Administration's emphasis on recasting Japan's war history as either defensive or entitled. Some think its source is the Japanese reluctance to speak ill of their ancestors, even if they are war...
- Japan-korean Relations
"With the help of Japan, China, and Manchukuo, the world can be at peace"On Friday afternoon, February 22, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe gave a speech to a hand-selected crowd at CSIS in Washington. He is the grandson of Nobusuke Kishi who was an...
- Ldp Official Wants Review Of War Apologies
Shinzo Abe and Sanae TakaichiThe 1995 Murayama Statement, is Japan only official apology for Japan's war in Asia. It is the only Cabinet-approved apology by Japan. There have been several other official apologies since then, but they are...