Clinton visits Meiji Shrine › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

REUTERS/Issei Kato

Tuesday 17th February, 09:20 AM JST

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is led by Shinto priests as she visits Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Tuesday morning. Clinton said she came to the shrine to ‘‘show respect for the history and culture of Japan’’ and expressed hope for an ‘‘even better future.’’ Accompanied by chief priest Seitaro Nakajima, Clinton bowed in front of the shrine once before signing a registry book and writing down comments. She also watched shrine maidens perform a sacred dance based on a poem by Emperor Showa, the posthumous name of Emperor Hirohito (1926-1989), which hopes for peace. Clinton’s appearance came as a surprise to some of the visitors to the shrine in the morning. ‘‘She seemed to have an inner fortitude, unlike our country’s politicians,’’ Aiko Mizukami, 71, said.

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Latest 15 of 45 Total Comments Show All

realist at 07:38 PM JST - 17th February

"Showing respect for the history and culture of Japan" is fine, so long as you know what you are doing. I was disappointed, but not surprised by the actions of Hillary. As a professing "Christian" and therfore a follower of the One True God, bowing down in front of a shrine dedicated to Japan`s 800 million Shinto "gods" shows that she has no understanding either of the Faith she professes to be a member of, nor indeed any clear understanding of the "history and culture" of Japan. It was State Shinto, represented by Meiji Shrine, which was responsible for the deaths of millions of Japanese and foreign nationals before and during the Second World War. Hillary has obviously not got a clue, and this act does not bode well for her time in office.
tclh at 08:07 PM JST - 17th February

"Hillary has obviously not got a clue, and this act does not bode well for her time in office."...no ,a confident christian will tolerate just about any other religion. You can freely worship your God but you can also show respect to other people's belief. Hillary is great.
herefornow at 08:20 PM JST - 17th February

tclh -- agree completely. As is often the case "realist" has gone off on a tangent, and left reality far behind. If a christian goes to a Jewish wedding and wears a yamakah out of respect, does that mean he/she has no "undersatnding of the faith she professes"? Please. Respect and worship are different concepts. A distinction realist apparantly cannot grasp. Even though christian leaders including the Pope have, as he has visited Jewish and non-Catholic places of worship numerous times. I say -- good on Clinton.
gurugurugaijin at 08:21 PM JST - 17th February

"Showing respect for the history and culture of Japan" is fine, so long as you know what you are doing. I was disappointed, but not surprised by the actions of Hillary. As a professing "Christian" and therfore a follower of the One True God, bowing down in front of a shrine dedicated to Japan`s 800 million Shinto "gods" shows that she has no understanding either of the Faith she professes to be a member of, nor indeed any clear understanding of the "history and culture" of Japan. It was State Shinto, represented by Meiji Shrine, which was responsible for the deaths of millions of Japanese and foreign nationals before and during the Second World War. Hillary has obviously not got a clue, and this act does not bode well for her time in office."

What a strange almost fanatic post.

Hillary is a lumbering water buffalo going from place to place awkwardly but to say she's wrong for doing something cultural? Please. There are plenty of other reasons to find fault with her. People always go batty when religion is involved.
SushiSake3 at 08:43 PM JST - 17th February

tclh - absolutely and totally agree.
yabits at 08:55 PM JST - 17th February

I would be very interested to know how the decision and plans were made to visit Meiji Shrine. Was it something the Americans initiated with the Japanese, as in "We would like to do something that openly shows our respect for your culture and traditions. What would you suggest?" On the other hand, I suspect that the choice of the location could well have come from one the Japan experts at the State Department.

Anyway, I am proud that she is representing the United States.

As to her "bowing" to show respect to her hosts, a simple gesture like that shows humility and does more to advance the cause of whatever one's personal religion happens to be. Someone wise once wrote, "To the Greek, I became as the Greek."
ca1ic0cat at 10:12 PM JST - 17th February

I like the garden better than the shrine proper but both are a good spot for a photo op. Why not go there? I don't understand why people are getting their noses out of joint.
OneForAll at 10:54 PM JST - 17th February

"...why people are getting their noses out of joint."

Because of WWII and the millions who died in the name of this religion.

There are other faiths in this land. Politics and religion should be kept apart. It would be nice if she went to the church of her denomination in her private time in Japan. The Christian message is really the hope for the world. But this should not be done in her role as Secretary of State. The Christian values should be present though.
OneForAll at 10:57 PM JST - 17th February

realist - absolutely and totally agree.
Patto at 02:11 AM JST - 18th February

Realist--the figure is 8 million, not 800 million. And also, "gods" is a poor translation of "kami." I wonder if you think 8 million would be an over-estimation of the number of angels? I try to see into the heart of any religion, and know that in every case there will be examples of where the religion went terribly wrong, but that does not mean that all of its manifestations are therefore bad.
OssanAmerica at 04:33 AM JST - 18th February

American women have good fashion taste! A+ for Hillary's elegance!

I agree that American women have good fashion sense, That's why Hillary stands out always looking like she's modelling for circus tents.
OhioDonna at 07:11 AM JST - 18th February

Clueless at the Meiji Shrine.
Sarge at 07:13 AM JST - 18th February

OhioDonna - "Clueless at the Meiji Shrine"

Explain!
whyamiinjapan at 12:26 PM JST - 18th February

I think she should have gone to Yasukuni. Ha haaaa! That would have stirred up some poo, eh?
OhioDonna at 12:47 AM JST - 19th February

Explain: She is wearing an outfit that causes her to stick out like a sore thumb. But on the other hand I am not sure what her real motives were for the visit. She is one shrewd lady and knows how to play the press.