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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014.Abe says he will continue to gain understanding of his Yasukuni visit
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Scrote
Perhaps Abe can explain why he only pays his respects to those of the Shinto religion and ignores Japanese war dead of other religions (or no religion). Does he believe that the war dead were exclusively Shinto followers, or does the Yasukuni shrine arrogantly make that assumption?
What is needed is a secular memorial, but Abe has spoken against that in the past. This demonstrates his contempt for those who fought and died for Japan but were not believers in Shinto.
boweevil
He's spitting in the wind for want of a politer expression.
As long he maintains a historical narrative that is uniquely Japanese versus one that represents events as they actually happened, Asian countries aren't going to listen. There are certainly a lot of advantages for Asian countries to exaagerate the scale of Japanese agression in WWII. And they are wrong to do so. However, Abe's uncompromisingly rose-tinted view of Japan as a country that never committed any transgressions, or if it did, it did so because its hand was forced, isn't going to present Abe with sympathetic ears on most issues in East Asia.
shiboritate
Scrote - being "shinto" is not a requirement for enshrinement at the main shrine. In fact, it includes some non-Japanese as well. Also, in Dec 2013 Abe made a point of praying at a second shrine there which deifies ALL war dead, including the victims of other countries and religions. He pledged everlasting peace. Please read his words here. http://japan.kantei.go.jp/96_abe/statement/201312/1202986_7801.html
boweevil
...'He will conitnue to gani understanding...` iimplies that he has already established some sort of understanding-which he obviously hasn't.
tokyodoumo
People could see right through his lies and manipulations... This is the guy who said his visits to Yasukuni is to strengthen the ties with neighboring Countries... typical and obviously offensive arrogance from a leader of far right nationalism.
Scrote
shiboritate: I find that a strange situation. If someone from an atheist family died in the war and Yasukuni shrine then announced they were enshrining his spirit it seems quite offensive to say the least. The parents may, like me, not believe that any kind of spirit exists to be enshrined and may, like me, object to any religious organisation having any say whatsoever in the matter. The remembrance of war dead should not be associated with any particular religion. A secular memorial is the solution.
presto345
This is not achieved by actions that continue to upset neighboring countries.