Yasukuni Shrine 70 Years After WWII

                                   Yasukuni Shrine ( Photo: Wiiii Wikipedia)

Summer is here once again, and in Japan, the issue of government officials visiting Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward will soon again be in the news. The end of WWII is remembered every August in Japan, and delegations of government officials including cabinet officers go to Yasukuni Shrine to pay their respects to the war dead. The controversy about these visits centers around objections by China and Korea that “Class A” war criminals are enshrined at Yasukuni, and that such visits are not appropriate given the actions of such people during WWII.

 This controversy seems to have no solution. However, this year being the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, surely the issue will take on added significance. China plans to hold a huge ceremony to commemorate the end of hostilities just weeks after the late summer visits to Yasukuni. Also, there is always the possibility of the simmering Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute boiling up again due to “provocative” actions by the parties involved. So it could be a very hot summer indeed politically. What are your thoughts on this issue? Please log in and let us know.