Aso fails to clarify whether he will visit Yasukuni Shrine

Wednesday 08th October, 05:58 AM JST

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noirgaijin at 02:25 PM JST - 8th October

Why is this still an issue 63 years after these turkeys were enshrined there? Man, these folks in Asia can carry a grudge into infinity… Let's try to change the social and moral issues in reference to politics, into what are we going to do to feed and shelter (if not reduce) the growing homeless population. If Japan is concern about China’s reaction to this, well that takes us back to that grudge thing…
Hughgarse at 02:28 PM JST - 8th October

if he does, he`s an idiot!
dennis0bauer at 03:20 PM JST - 8th October

for the japanese they are not war criminals but heroes, we foreigners just do not understand Japanese Culture.

And off course will he go he must keep his right wing backers happy.
presto345 at 04:27 PM JST - 8th October

for the japanese they are not war criminals but heroes

You are generalizing, bauer, and I am wary of those assumptions. Some of the enshrined there may be heroes to some. Certainly not to the majority of the Japanese.
thepro at 06:05 PM JST - 8th October

Proof?
borscht at 10:10 PM JST - 8th October

gyouza, Just for reference, "Thou shall have no other gods before me" is the Third Commandment.

noirgaijin, Holding a grudge for only 63 years? In some parts of the world cough-Iraq-cough it's more like a couple hundred years. Or a thousand.

How many times as this Aso gone to this shrine in the past as a politician or as a private citizen (with the cabinet and Prime minister, of course) or as a cabinet member? Has he ever not gone? What a weasel - say it loud, say it proud!
realteacher at 10:12 PM JST - 8th October

I'm no Catholic, but Aso claims to be. I wonder if an informed person could answer this for me: Wouldn't it be an act of idolatry (I believe that is the word) for Aso to visit Yasakuni? And if the answer is yes, would that not be grounds for excommunication? Just curious.
KitsuneYoukai at 10:44 PM JST - 8th October

I say...Do it Aso!!!!
Patrick Smash at 10:59 PM JST - 8th October

noirgaigin

The Class As were enshrined there in the 1970s mate. That's part of the problem. It was a deliberate act by the Yasukuni priests, and one they believe cannot be undone.
Good_Jorb at 11:17 PM JST - 8th October

Yasukuni priests, and one they believe cannot be undone.

I have seen some big erasers that could prove them wrong. Why they wanted to add the people who caused Japan to lose the war (by starting it), is beyond me. I would think it would be shameful to millions of other's, who's scarifice turned out to be meaningless.
medievaltimes at 01:07 AM JST - 9th October

Why is this still an issue 63 years after these turkeys were enshrined there? Man, these folks in Asia can carry a grudge into infinity…

Becuase their behaviors do not match their words time and time again. Also, becuase saving face sometimes is more important than logic.

If you ask why Germany doesnt have these problems with their neighbors, you start to get some answers.
taikan at 05:30 AM JST - 9th October

The fact that he refused to answer the question shows that he has more intelligence than many who post on JT give him credit for.

Whether his visit would subject him to excommunication is a matter for the Roman Curia, but I doubt that a visit to a shrine to pray for the souls of the dead would be viewed as an offense worthy of excommunication, if it is an offense at all.
NeoJamal at 06:35 AM JST - 9th October

If you ask why Germany doesnt have these problems with their neighbors, you start to get some answers.

yes I'm sure Japan wants similar political ties with its neigbours like Germany and the EU. The Japanese just LOVE the prospect of the Chinese pouring into their country to look for work.
borscht at 11:17 AM JST - 9th October

NeoJamal,

The Japanese just LOVE the prospect of the Chinese pouring into their country to look for work.

They're getting used to it. But, since this is about the Aso man visiting a Japanese shrine, I'll say, if he can't answer the question at this time, perhaps I could help. Yes, he will.
realist at 01:13 PM JST - 9th October

I am a Christian, not a Roman Catholic. I cant speak for Catholics, but I think they also accept the Ten Commandments, one of which says "You shall have no other "gods" but me" ie the Living and One True God of the Bible. The teaching of the Bible is very clear about idolatry. Christians worship only God, not man-made idols or other man-made "gods" like the war criminals enshrined in the Yasukuni Shrine of Hate. For Aso, a professing Catholic, to visit and pay homage at Ysukuni would be an act of gross idolatry. For that act, he would have to answer before his Creator when he one day stands before Him, the Judge of all the Universe. Of course, many Japanese are synchrontistic with regards to "religion" freely mixing many religions in the hope that one of them is right. I have a Japanese Catholic friend who is　RC, but also has a Butsudan and a Shinto godshelf in her home - unthinkable to a born-again Believer. Will Aso go to Yasukuni? He will continue to be ambiguous, because that is the nature of the beast - but I dont think he has the guts to do it, because if he has a brain at all, he will know, surely, that that act would immediately alientate Christians and Buddhists in Japan, in addition to the Chinese and the Koreans. We would be going back to the bad old days of Koizumi.