Weekly Writing #3

Weather Japanese prime minister visiting Yasukuni Shrine is good or bad, has been a controversy over decades across the borders. On the one hand, from constitutional perspective, people argues that any kids of public officers visiting the Yasukuni publicly or privately is unconstitutional. Culturally, people in Japan think it is proper actions for nations' Representative figure to visit Yasukuni and show gratitude and respect for ancestors who sacrificed their lives to nation. On the other hand, from colonial P.O.V., people in Korea, Taiwan and China argues that Japanese prime minister praying homage at Yasukuni justifies Japanese colonial rules over their countries. Others such as Western countries maintain neutral positions in order to maintain good relationship with Japan, but opinions vary in individuals. For example, Michael Jordan Green, a National Security Council Asia Chair, argued that demanding suspension for Japanese prime minister to visit Yasukuni is bad mistake; It is wrong to say Japan forgets the responsibility of their colonialism. On the other hand, Tomas Peter Lantos, a Democratic member of the United States House Representatives argued that visiting Yasukuni and praying homage to A-class war criminal is same as praying homage for Hitler and Stalin. Therefore, Japanese prime minister visiting Yasukuni is unmoral and it is not something great nation such as Japan would do.