JAPAN: Japanese citizens and politicians pray at contentious war shrine, but Prime Minister Abe avoids controversy

Record ID: 465214

  • Title: JAPAN: Japanese citizens and politicians pray at contentious war shrine, but Prime Minister Abe avoids controversy
  • Date: 15th August 2007
  • Summary: GROUP OF MEN IN OLD MILITARY UNIFORMS PARADING INTO THE SHRINE CARRYING OLD JAPANESE FLAG CLOSE UP OF MEN'S FEET MARCHING
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA4JE242MBUKIL930C019KSEMEX
  • Story Text: Thousands of Japanese are expected to pray at Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine on Wednesday (August 15) to mark the day 62 years ago that Japan surrendered and ended World War Two.
    The shrine honours Japanese war dead from all the past wars but includes controversially World War Two leaders convicted by an Allied tribunal as war criminals. Previous visits by Japanese leaders had chilled ties with China and South Korea.
    While some visitors to the shrine wore ancient military costumes from World War Two, the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War or even older, a large group of Japanese politicians arrived in formal wear to bow and pray to the spirits of the war dead.
    Conspicuously missing however was Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his cabinet. If he and his cabinet do not visit the shrine this year, it would be the first time in 22 years that the entire cabinet had stayed away.
    Abe moved swiftly after taking office last September to mend damaged ties with Japan's neighbours and analysts say he is unlikely to risk the progress made by paying homage on the anniversary.
    But Abe came under fire earlier this year for saying there was no evidence the military or government were involved in abducting women into forced prostitution for soldiers before and during World War Two. He later apologised.
    He is scheduled to pay his respects at a secular memorial and speak at a remembrance ceremony alongside Emperor Akihito later on Wednesday.
    ENDS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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