Dear All (apologies for cross postings),
Since my presence and presentation at this Friday's Sydney SFL Seminar
("Flag-waving", persuasiveness and putative-reader positioning in
journalistic commentary) will be digital only (still in Victoria and
New South Wales Premier won't let me cross the border) , thought it
might be useful to distribute the texts I'll be referencing/analysing
ahead of time. I will be looking at them in some detail (Jim Martin, of
course, has already distributed the abstract and the Zoom session
connection info).
--------- texts to consider ------------
Article 1
[China Daily, December 26, 2013]
Abe shows his cloven hoof
Hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe finally showed his cloven
hoof. He celebrated the first anniversary of his second premiership by
insulting Japan’s neighbors and the rest of the world.
His visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday betrayed his decision to
confront righteousness, conscience and truth.
His Yasukuni pilgrimage was a declaration of deliberate provocation.
He has chosen to place Japan in opposition to China and South Korea when
his country has damaged its relations with the two neighbors to a record
low point.
He has chosen to throw down the gauntlet on the international documents
settling Japan’s war responsibilities during its colonization and World
War II.
At the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, 28 Japanese
leaders were charged with Class A crimes, and more than 5,700 with
Classes B and C crimes. Fourteen of the Class A criminals, including the
wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, are enshrined at Yasukuni, which
makes the shrine a place that sensible politicians should not visit.
But Abe has chosen to salute his country’s war criminals. He has pledged
to boost patriotism among his countrymen in a way that plays down or
denies Japan’s war atrocities in WWII.
Abe has chosen to put his country in isolation.
Article 2
[Asahi Shimbun, October 19, 2019]
Cabinet members should keep their distance from Yasukuni Shrine
Seiichi Eto, a state minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern
Territories affairs, and Sanae Takaichi, the internal affairs and
communications minister, visited Yasukuni Shrine during its ongoing
autumn festival.
At a news conference, Eto said, “I offered prayers for those who gave
their lives to their country.” But a Cabinet minister’s visit to the
shrine is different in its implications from pilgrimages by families of
the war dead or ordinary citizens. Yasukuni Shrine, where people who
died in Japan’s wars during its imperial era are enshrined as deities,
was the core facility of the wartime state Shintoism, which formed the
spiritual underpinnings of militarism.
After the end of the war, the shrine became a religious corporation like
other shrines and temples. But a Japanese political leader’s visit to
the shrine can be interpreted as a sign that Japan has forgotten its
past mistakes and is trying to justify its behavior before and during
the war. That is why the governments of China and South Korea called the
two ministers’ actions “deplorable” and filed protests.
Among those enshrined at Yasukuni are 14 Japanese leaders who were held
accountable for the war the nation waged and convicted as Class-A war
criminals in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, also
known as the Tokyo Trial.
A Cabinet minister’s visit to the shrine could lead to a denial of the
national creed Japan has upheld since it returned to the international
community under the Treaty of San Francisco. Japan accepted the rulings
handed down in the Tokyo Trial under the treaty, which re-established
its relations with the Allied powers.
Abe has refrained from visiting the facility since [a visit in 2013 soon
after his re-election] and has only offered “masakaki,” a sacred
evergreen ritual implement, to the shrine for its spring and autumn
festivals.
Abe should have urged his ministers to follow his example and stay away
from the shrine.
Both Eto and Takaichi are known as Abe confidants and have a history of
visiting the shrine regularly. Their actions can only be seen as
gestures to indicate Abe’s real wishes.
Japan’s relationship with South Korea is said to be in the worst shape
since the end of the war. Politicians of both countries are required to
use their collective wisdom to improve the situation. Japan’s
relationship with China is also in a delicate and sensitive state with
Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to visit Japan next spring as a
state guest.
Any action that could cause tension in Japan’s relations with its
neighbors only shows a lack of political wisdom. A visit to Yasukuni
Shrine by the prime minister or a Cabinet minister also raises questions
concerning the constitutional principle of separation of religion and
politics.
Both Eto and Takaichi said they visited the shrine “in a private
capacity.” As long as they hold Cabinet posts, however, the line between
their public and private function is not clear.
In 2002, when Koizumi was the prime minister, a private advisory panel
to then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda compiled a report calling
for the establishment of a state-run, non-religious facility for
memorial services for the war dead. But no specific policy action was
taken in line with the recommendation. Politicians have a duty to
consider a new facility for war memorial services that everyone can
visit without feeling hesitation or complicated emotions.
best
Peter
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Dr Peter R. R. White
School of Arts and Media
University of New South Wales,
Sydney, Australia
prr.white@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.languageofevaluation.info/appraisal
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