Fumio Kyuma, who held the Defence portfolio, maintained that the two atomic bombs had served to prevent a Soviet invasion that would have led to the break-up of Japan. Prime Minister Abe sought in vain to defend his statements.
The people of the island, where one of the bloodiest battles of world war II took place, are protesting the Ministry for Education’s decision to erase all reference of the military’s responsibility in forcing thousands of people to commit suicide from school books.
US House Committee on Foreign Affairs June 26 vote demanding Japan officially apologise for forcing women into sexual slavery for its troops is likely to rock US-Japanese relations. On the sidelines, Japanese and South Korean groups traded jibes in adverts.
The ex president of Taipei went to Yasukuni to pay his respects to his brother who is honoured there, but Beijing sees it a san attempt to gain Japanese support for the island’s sovereignty.
The odyssey of four people, parents and children and their incredible crossing, at the end of which they had to convince Japanese authorities that they were not spies.
It’s an incubator where new born babies can be left without the parents being seen. But on the first day a three year old child was deposited. Controversy from certain quarters which maintain the State should take charge of childcare issues.
The current constitution does not allow for the use of military force and therefore prohibits the existence of an army. But Japan has the world’s fifth biggest military budget and boasts 250 thousand men in its defence forces equipped with some of the most advanced weapons.
It has emerged from the diaries of one of his assistants that the emperor was against the internment of indicted war criminals in the sanctuary. Government involvement in the decision to honour such criminals is also proven.
April 23, after 15 years three men guilty of multiple murders, were hanged. The death decrees signed at the weekend to avoid criticism from the opposition. The return of the death penalty, perhaps as a method to empty prisons.
Itcho Itoh was at the forefront of the campaign against nuclear arms and he opposed the possibility that his country could develop such weapons. It is the city’s third collective shock, after the atomic bomb and the assassination attempt on Ito’s predecessor.
Chinese premier visit begins melting the ice that has historically stood between the two countries. Whilst economic relations are already intense, now the bases for friendship must be laid. A visit by Abe to the Yakusuni Temple would stop the process.
Starting today through to April 13th the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is in Japan on a state visit which observers describe as a milestone in the journey towards reconciliation between East Asia’s two super powers.
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive verified news, analysis and insights from Asian countries every week.
Subscribeto the newsletter
