Japanese govnmt spokesman says Emperor can visit shrine "as a private citizen"

[Quest]

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060130p2a00m0na013000c.html

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060129p2a00m0na003000c.html

"A visit to Yasukuni by the Emperor would be considered the act of a private citizen," he told reporters.

Aso, who recently angered Beijing by calling China a threat, said the communist government's opposition to Koizumi's shrine visits only increased one's desire to go.

"It's just like when you're told, 'Don't smoke cigarettes," Kyodo quoted Aso as saying. "It actually makes you want to smoke. It's best (for China) to keep quiet."

Love the Japanese politicians.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso said over the weekend that Emperor Akihito, son of World War II-era Emperor Hirohito, should visit Yasukuni Shrine to honor Japan's war dead.

"The war dead shouted 'Banzai!' for the Emperor, not the prime minister," Kyodo quoted Aso as saying. "A visit by the Emperor would be best."

The Emperor, the symbol of Japan, as a private citizen, to visit an internationally notorious controversial war shrine.... how private can that be?

[ala]

Aso, who recently angered Beijing by calling China a threat, said the communist government's opposition to Koizumi's shrine visits only increased one's desire to go.

"It's just like when you're told, 'Don't smoke cigarettes," Kyodo quoted Aso as saying. "It actually makes you want to smoke. It's best (for China) to keep quiet."

lol...

smoking is a really bad example. smoking is banned publicly in most major US cities now. does that make more people want to smoke? i think it's forcing more people to quit than ever.

he should've used prohibition as an example.

[Outofin]

Don't understand why they do this. On one hand, it will obviously damage Japan's image. On the other hand, do the politicians gain advantages on domestic issues? I read that Japanese public opinion doesn't favor it either.

[novemberfog]

The average person really doesn't care what the policians are up to. But the old guard, the policy makers, the coalitions...I guess it matters to them. Life others on this board have said, it is mostly the saving of face attitude.

For example, there is a problem in the Imperial family, which is that there is no male to ascend to the throne in the future. So most people are okay with a pincess becoming the symbol of the state. Even Koizumi backs it and is trying to push it through parliament.

But wait, here comes the old guard with this lovely remark:

"If Aiko becomes the reigning empress, and gets involved with a blue-eyed foreigner while studying abroad and marries him, their child may be the emperor," he told the rally at a Tokyo hall.

"We should get united and prevent the Cabinet from submitting legislation to parliament," he said.

"We'll do our best to preserve the authentic tradition and culture and protect our nation."

Some 1,200 people attended the rally, according to organisers.

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4669408.stm

And let us not forget that fact that mayor of Tokyo openly spouts out random racist remarks about anything.

I just think their are a lot of idiots in the office. But then again, that is probably true in almost every country.

[ala]

The US Occupation forces were too kind, they should've dethroned the imperial family after WWII. Then this wouldn't be a problem.

[bhchao]

Actually dethroning the imperial family could have destabilized the postwar occupation of Japan, at least from MacArthur's viewpoint.

A big reason why the postwar occupation and reconstruction of Japan was a success is because of the cooperation of the Japanese. And the Japanese cooperated due to Hirohito's urgence, and the fact that the Allies did not infringe on the sovereignty of the imperial throne.

The Potsdam Declaration demanded that the Japanese unconditionally surrender. Since it did not mention about retaining the sovereignty of the emperor, the Japanese outright rejected it. So the Japanese were ready to fight to the death.

It was only after listening to Hirohito's radio broadcast following Nagasaki did the Japanese choose to accept surrender.