Comments on: Winds of Change at the Yasukuni Shrine http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/ Serving on the Forgotten Frontier Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:09:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Japanese General Writes Japan Not “Aggressor Nation” During World War II http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-242268 Japanese General Writes Japan Not “Aggressor Nation” During World War II Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:08:43 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-242268 [...] Having been to and knowing people in some of the countries this General mentions, particularly Indonesia and Singapore, I don’t know anyone that looks favorably upon the Imperial Japanese of World War II.  Does anyone else?  For visitors to Japan the best place to see the Japanese perspective on World War II is by going to the highly controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. [...] [...] Having been to and knowing people in some of the countries this General mentions, particularly Indonesia and Singapore, I don’t know anyone that looks favorably upon the Imperial Japanese of World War II.  Does anyone else?  For visitors to Japan the best place to see the Japanese perspective on World War II is by going to the highly controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. [...]

]]> By: Refining the Yushukan Museum http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-159083 Refining the Yushukan Museum Mon, 12 May 2008 20:37:44 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-159083 [...] visit to the "refined" Yushukan Museum located at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine.  I visited the Yasukuni Shrine myself a few years ago and it appears not much has changed despite the [...] [...] visit to the "refined" Yushukan Museum located at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine.  I visited the Yasukuni Shrine myself a few years ago and it appears not much has changed despite the [...]

]]> By: “No Evidence to Prove There Was Coercion” at ROK Drop http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7976 “No Evidence to Prove There Was Coercion” at ROK Drop Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:28:58 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7976 [...] I mentioned before in regards to the Yasukuni issue the historical problems with its Asian neighbors is what is preventing Japan from truly reaching [...] [...] I mentioned before in regards to the Yasukuni issue the historical problems with its Asian neighbors is what is preventing Japan from truly reaching [...]

]]> By: Aceface http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7484 Aceface Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:01:11 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7484 Yes China and other nations like Russia and France would veto a UN Security Council seat for the Japanese or anyone else for that matter because it dilludes the power they weild if more countries are added. Both Russia and France are SUPPORTING Japan's seat in the security council. Russia can have feel-good story for the bilateral relationship without dealing with territorial issues. France simply want more countries in security council to conter Washington's influence. Both want to have good relation with Germany,India and Brazil which all are taking more distance from Washington than Tokyo. I'm not a supporter for Tokyo's bit though. Yes China and other nations like Russia and France would veto a UN Security Council seat for the Japanese or anyone else for that matter because it dilludes the power they weild if more countries are added.

Both Russia and France are SUPPORTING Japan’s seat in the security council.

Russia can have feel-good story for the bilateral relationship without dealing with territorial issues.

France simply want more countries in security council to conter Washington’s influence.

Both want to have good relation with Germany,India and Brazil which all are taking more distance from Washington than Tokyo.

I’m not a supporter for Tokyo’s bit though.

]]> By: Skippy-san http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7205 Skippy-san Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:16:34 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7205 There was a story about Koreans enshrined in Yasukuni tonight on NHK. It included a Korean, now living in Japan who is enshrined there...only problem is he is not dead yet........... It is important to remember that Yasukuni is not owned by the Japanese government and has not been since the occupation. Re Tom's comment. The Atomic bombs saved American lives.....and they kept the Russians out of Japan. A lot of Japanese don't realize how much Japan would have been hurt had the Soviets invaded Hokkaido and Northern Honshu............ There was a story about Koreans enshrined in Yasukuni tonight on NHK. It included a Korean, now living in Japan who is enshrined there…only problem is he is not dead yet………..

It is important to remember that Yasukuni is not owned by the Japanese government and has not been since the occupation.

Re Tom’s comment. The Atomic bombs saved American lives…..and they kept the Russians out of Japan. A lot of Japanese don’t realize how much Japan would have been hurt had the Soviets invaded Hokkaido and Northern Honshu…………

]]> By: Durf http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7204 Durf Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:50:57 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7204 Japan has been part of something called the G4--the "group of four" nations aiming for permanent seats. These are Japan, Germany, Brazil, and India. They all entered an agreement to back each other up in their quest for more seats on the council. They lost momentum for a few reasons: one was opposition from African nations, which were mounting their own campaign to get African representation among the permanent members, and one was strong opposition from the current permanent membership. I think that based on all of this, most people have been well aware that the UNSC is most concerned with maintaining the veto power for the big five that now have it and granting it to nobody else. A magazine I work on put out a special issue dealing with all these issues a couple years ago: http://www.japanecho.co.jp/sum/2005/b32sp.html Check it out if you're interested. See you around on the interwebs. Added you to my RSS feed list! Japan has been part of something called the G4–the “group of four” nations aiming for permanent seats. These are Japan, Germany, Brazil, and India. They all entered an agreement to back each other up in their quest for more seats on the council.

They lost momentum for a few reasons: one was opposition from African nations, which were mounting their own campaign to get African representation among the permanent members, and one was strong opposition from the current permanent membership. I think that based on all of this, most people have been well aware that the UNSC is most concerned with maintaining the veto power for the big five that now have it and granting it to nobody else.

A magazine I work on put out a special issue dealing with all these issues a couple years ago:
http://www.japanecho.co.jp/sum/2005/b32sp.html
Check it out if you’re interested.

See you around on the interwebs. Added you to my RSS feed list!

]]> By: GI Korea http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7179 GI Korea Mon, 26 Feb 2007 11:00:18 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7179 Yes China and other nations like Russia and France would veto a UN Security Council seat for the Japanese or anyone else for that matter because it dilludes the power they weild if more countries are added. However, by eliminating the history dispute and other issues with its neighbors this eliminates any political cover that a country like China would have when they do veto any attempt to add Japan. As it stands now China could veto Japan and make a strong case why Japan should not be included based on the Yasukuni issue and people would probably buy it. However, if the history dispute and other issues like the stupid Dokdo issue is solved the veto appears a whole lot more hollow and done purely for political purposes. Then Japan should start its own political offensive by backing countries like Brazil and India to join the Security Council with them and if they continue to be denied this will ultimately dillute the power of the Security Council because it will appear that the council is more concerned about keeping its own power and advancing its own interests (which it is) instead of being a body representative of the world's best interests. If Japan can't get into the Security Council which according to population, military, and economic might says it should then at the very least they should work to dillude what remaining power the council still has. Yes China and other nations like Russia and France would veto a UN Security Council seat for the Japanese or anyone else for that matter because it dilludes the power they weild if more countries are added.

However, by eliminating the history dispute and other issues with its neighbors this eliminates any political cover that a country like China would have when they do veto any attempt to add Japan. As it stands now China could veto Japan and make a strong case why Japan should not be included based on the Yasukuni issue and people would probably buy it.

However, if the history dispute and other issues like the stupid Dokdo issue is solved the veto appears a whole lot more hollow and done purely for political purposes.

Then Japan should start its own political offensive by backing countries like Brazil and India to join the Security Council with them and if they continue to be denied this will ultimately dillute the power of the Security Council because it will appear that the council is more concerned about keeping its own power and advancing its own interests (which it is) instead of being a body representative of the world’s best interests. If Japan can’t get into the Security Council which according to population, military, and economic might says it should then at the very least they should work to dillude what remaining power the council still has.

]]> By: Durf http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7158 Durf Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:19:03 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7158 Well, I'm of the opinion that Japan could burn Yasukuni to the ground tomorrow and China would still veto any Tokyo attempt to get a permanent UNSC seat . . . Prime ministerial visits are of course counterproductive. (Abe seems to be doing a good job of simply not going to the shrine, at least since well before he became PM last fall. It's resulted in summit meetings that hadn't happened for some time under Koizumi, and all those without an explicit pledge not to go to the shrine.) Well, I’m of the opinion that Japan could burn Yasukuni to the ground tomorrow and China would still veto any Tokyo attempt to get a permanent UNSC seat . . . Prime ministerial visits are of course counterproductive. (Abe seems to be doing a good job of simply not going to the shrine, at least since well before he became PM last fall. It’s resulted in summit meetings that hadn’t happened for some time under Koizumi, and all those without an explicit pledge not to go to the shrine.)

]]> By: GI Korea http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7156 GI Korea Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:10:25 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7156 All the government has to do is say that the Prime Minister will not visit the shrine until the museum's displays are amended. This would instantly marganilize the museum as not being representive of Japanese government policy. As long as the Prime Minister visits Yasukuni he creates the perception that he agrees with what the museum preaches which only feeds the demagogues in Korea and Japan. For a country wanting a UN Security Council seat you would think they could rise above something as petty as the Yasukuni issue. All the government has to do is say that the Prime Minister will not visit the shrine until the museum’s displays are amended. This would instantly marganilize the museum as not being representive of Japanese government policy. As long as the Prime Minister visits Yasukuni he creates the perception that he agrees with what the museum preaches which only feeds the demagogues in Korea and Japan.

For a country wanting a UN Security Council seat you would think they could rise above something as petty as the Yasukuni issue.

]]> By: Durf http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7150 Durf Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:34:56 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/26/winds-of-change-at-the-yasukuni-shrine/#comment-7150 It's difficult to know what *Japan* should do about this museum, since it isn't a national museum in whose content or management the government has any say. One can talk about the presence of the museum itself as an offensive thing, which it indeed is, but to go on from there and demand public policy in response to it is misguided. What would be the response of the US government to a demand that Congress do something about the stormfront.org website? It’s difficult to know what *Japan* should do about this museum, since it isn’t a national museum in whose content or management the government has any say. One can talk about the presence of the museum itself as an offensive thing, which it indeed is, but to go on from there and demand public policy in response to it is misguided.

What would be the response of the US government to a demand that Congress do something about the stormfront.org website?

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