Well, the world had better get ready for Japan's neighbors to get 'really' angry soon. Japanese PM Koizumi has just come out and announced that 'he intends on visiting Yasukuni Shrine' at sometime this year. I'm sure he will visit in August (the month of the Obon holiday period). During August, Japanese families return to their ancestral homes and visit the graves of their family. Families gather and clean the grave (or tombstone) and offer their prayers.
Koizumi, I predict, will choose to visit Yasukuni Shrine in the month of July. His visit will definitely set off another round of anger coming from China and South Korea. Here is what Koizumi said about his upcoming 'unofficial' visit to the controversial shrine.
Excerpt (Nikkei News)
Though in his talks with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao the Chinese leaders called on him to stop visiting Yasukuni, Koizumi said he does not understand why he should stop paying his respects to the country's war dead.
As for the inclusion of the convicted war criminals among those honored at the shrine, Koizumi quoted Confucius, who famously said: "Condemn the offense, but pity the offender," indicating that he sees nothing wrong with their enshrinement.
I don't the China will stand by silently and let the PM of Japan go without hearing a few words of protest from the PRC.
In my humble opinion, I would rather see the Japanese government erect a special war memorial near the Imperial Palace where people can come and pay their respects to those who fought in the war. I don't find any problems in people paying their respects to the soldiers in WWII. I, however, would have some objections to any Japanese politician trying to 'glorify' the war for his/her own political gain.
I don't think Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine have any ill-intent to Japan's neighbors. And if Koizumi plans on visiting Yasukuni Shrine as a citizen of the country and not as the PM, then I will gladly donate money to pay for a taxi cab for his visit. And as for his 'security detail', let him travel with a group of old ladies. Leave the armed body guards back at the PM's residence.
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