The "peace packaging" of the "War Criminals Shrine" cannot deceive the world

Headquarters reporter’s observation丨The “peace packaging” of the “War Criminals Shrine” cannot deceive the world

The so-called autumn "big festival" of Japan's "War Criminals Shrine" started on October 17, and politicians such as Takaichi Sanae once again offered sacrifices or went to pay homage. But what is more alarming than "ghost worship" itself is that Japan's worship and beautification of Class A war criminals of World War II does not only exist in "war criminal shrines", but also in some so-called "soul comfort facilities" that commemorate war criminals whose hands are stained with the blood of the Asian people in different forms. It also attempts to package "war criminal shrines" into so-called "shrines of peace" in an attempt to overturn the convictions of Class A war criminals. The reporter from the main station conducted an in-depth investigation and uncovered the dangerous foreshadowing behind this "peaceful packaging".

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: The three days starting from today (17th) will be another so-called autumn “big festival” at Japan’s “War Criminals Shrine”. At a time when peace-loving people in the international community are condemning right-wing forces for being stubborn and offering sacrifices to "ghost worshipers", I noticed a dangerous situation that deserves more vigilance than "ghost worship" itself. Japan's worship and beautification of Class-A war criminals is not limited to the "War Criminals Shrine" in Tokyo. There are also some temples, tombstones and so-called "soul comfort facilities" that commemorate these war criminals whose hands are stained with the blood of the Asian people in different forms, and package them into so-called "peace shrines" through so-called "religious exchanges" and "peace prayers". But can this packaged so-called peace really deceive the whole world?

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: On the first day of the so-called "Autumn Festival", Gaoshi Sanae offered sacrifices early in the morning. Since this year, Gaoshi Sanae has sent sacrifices or sacrifice fees at least 4 times. Some cabinet ministers and members of parliament went to pay homage or offer sacrifices. The logic behind these actions is clear and dangerous: enshrining 14 Class-A war criminals together in the shrine is actually to beautify the war of aggression and overturn the verdict of the war of aggression!

There is more than one place in Japan to worship ghosts

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: What is even more alarming is that the Yasukuni Shrine is not the only "holy site for war criminals" in Japan. On Mount Sangen in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, where the Asian Games had just been held, I discovered a so-called "Tomb of the Seven Martyred Soldiers." In order to promote their ideas, the local preachers gave me a CD in which a person in charge who had been involved in maintaining the "soul comfort facility" for a long time preached to the visitors that the aggressive war launched by Japan that year was a "holy war."

Hiroshi Ito (deceased), the maintainer of the Sangen Mountain “Comfort Facility”: We participated in the “Greater East Asia War” in the name of “holy war.” However, during the Murayama Cabinet and Hosokawa Cabinet, the Japanese government actually apologized to its Asian neighbors. This is absolutely ridiculous. Although Japan was defeated militarily, Asia is where it is today thanks to Japan. Why can't we be proud of this? What we are participating in is not an aggressive war at all. Precisely because it was a "holy war", we fought at the cost of our lives.

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: It is this absurd idea of ​​the right-wing forces that makes them always want to overturn the convictions of the seven Class-A war criminals who were sentenced to hanging in the Tokyo Trial. Buried in the "Tomb of the Seven Martyred Soldiers" are some of the ashes of these seven Class-A war criminals. The inscription was written by Nobusuke Kishi, the grandfather of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who served two terms as Prime Minister of Japan and was also a World War II Class-A war criminal suspect in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. Behind the monument are listed seven Japanese Class-A war criminals, Kenji Doihara, Iwane Matsui, Hideki Tojo, Akira Muto, Seishiro Itagaki, Koki Hirota, and Hyoutaro Kimura, and some of their ashes are buried under the monument. The words "Yasukuni Shrine" are also printed on the wine vessel placed in front of the "Comfort the Soul" monument. Next to this "comfort" monument, there are many war criminals who died in the war of aggression launched by Japan.

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: Some time ago, when I was interviewing in Mount Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, I also discovered a religious site funded by Japanese right-wing forces. Through the crack in the door, you can see the words "Yasukuni Shrine" written on the hanging lantern. Next to the temple is a "Seven Soldiers Monument" inscribed by former Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru. The names of seven Class-A war criminals are also listed next to the monument.

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: In traditional Chinese culture, people who can be called "shi" are either people with knowledge and accomplishment, such as "bachelor" or "doctor", or people with moral integrity, such as "patriots" and "righteous men", or people with social prestige, such as "gentlemen" and "celebrities". Enshrining and worshiping these seven war criminals who were innocently killed is a blatant trampling on the Tokyo Trial! If the leaders of the war of aggression who were stained with blood can be enshrined, then how can we comfort those who fought tirelessly and unfortunately sacrificed their lives for the victory of the world anti-fascist war?

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: According to declassified US military files, after seven Class-A war criminals were hanged, their ashes were scattered over a large area over the Pacific Ocean about 48 kilometers east of Yokohama, in order to make the gravesites traceless. However, a few right-wing elements manipulated the altar and stole some of the ashes and buried them in two places. The Yasukuni Shrine enshrines "spiritual tablets", while the two places where ashes are buried have been turned into more specific so-called "holy places" by right-wingers. Not only are they maintained by a dedicated team, but they also raise funds publicly to continue operations. We found information from public reports or posts posted by the parties themselves that many Japanese politicians went to these two locations to "worship ghosts." Among them are former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, who is regarded as the source of post-war conservatism. He is the grandfather of the current Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party Taro Aso; there is also the Liberal Democratic Party Congressman Yamada Hiroshi, the clown who clamored for Russia to demolish the monument to the victory over Japanese militarism; the current Minister of Reconstruction and Reconstruction Hosono Hiroshi; Every year, worship activities are held in these two places at specific times. In addition to "ghost worship", worshipers even publicly cry out for the injustice of Class A war criminals of World War II.

Headquarters reporter He Xinlei: In recent years, the "War Criminals Shrine" in Tokyo has another figure worthy of attention in its external activities, the current 14th generation palace minister Otsuka Kaifo. He is a former Maritime Self-Defense Force officer who is well versed in Japan’s armed military system, diplomatic operations and international communication. After serving as the highest priest in charge of the "War Criminals Shrine", he often preached the so-called "peace" concept of the "Shrine" at home and abroad. On June 17 this year, Otsuka Kaio participated in a Japan-India business exchange event held in Tokyo. During his speech, he claimed that the objects of his sacrifices were regardless of nationality, gender, and religion. He also confused the public and misinterpreted "Yasukuni" as a symbol of "peace." In his speech, he did not touch upon the core issue of enshrining 14 Class-A war criminals at the shrine, nor did he express any reflection on Japan's war of aggression.