[Opinion] Koizumi’s Absurd Visit

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15 was outrageous.

Korea and China had been protesting against Koizumi’s possible visit, stressing the visit to the shrine, which deifies Class-A war criminals on the anniversary of Japan`s surrender, is intolerable. Koizumi had also been avoiding visiting the shrine on the anniversary of Japan’s defeat, saying, “I shouldn’t make others be suspicious of my intentions. I am against war and respect peace.”

However, Koizumi, who steps down from his premiership next month, changed his words on Tuesday, saying, “Today (August 15) is the most appropriate day to pay a visit (to the Yasukuni Shrine).”

Koizumi’s outrageous action was not only unacceptable behavior but violence, as well.

Even former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, the first prime minister to make such a visit, criticized Koizumi’s visit, saying, “It’s absurd to insist that it is a visit of an individual. In fact, paying a visit (on August 15, the anniversary of the end of World War II) was part of his public pledge.”

Koichi Kato, former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, also condemned Koizumi’s action, saying, “Although he is arguing it’s a personnel matter, it’s actually a diplomatic matter involving Japan’s prime minister.”

The Japanese language has many words expressing consideration. ‘kokorozkai’ refers to thoughtfulness. ‘kikubari’ means delicate attention or consideration. And ‘omoiyari’ describes sympathetic attention. A supplementary budget for U.S. troops stationed on Okinawa is called an ‘omoiyari budget’. Those terms, which illustrate Japanese people’s thoughtfulness and consideration for others, are very indigenous Japanese words difficult to be translated into English.

However, Koizumi’s visit to the shrine was obviously not a considerate move. He trampled on the feelings of other nations and it was definitely a reckless violation. It has hurt the feelings of Korea and China that are not only Japan’s neighbors but at the same time victims of Japanese war crimes.

At the end of World War II, Kamikaze pilots took their last flights, saying, “Let’s meet each again at the Yasukuni Shrine.” Koizumi, who confessed he was so touched that tears swelled in his eyes last month when he visited the Kamikaze museum, has thrown himself into the shrine at the end of his term.

In Japan, people are now praising him one after another, saying, “Thank you” and “Long live the prime minister!” I wish the Japanese media inclined to support Koizumi’s visit to the shrine would not hurt the feelings of its Asian neighbors further by taking sides with its people, who are glorifying Koizumi’s reckless behavior.

Kim Chung-sik, Editorial Writer, skim@donga.com