On August 15, according to a report by Asahi Shimbun, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Hasegawa delivered a speech at the so-called "Memorial Ceremony for War Dead," stating: "We will never allow the horrors of war to happen again. Regardless of how much time passes, we will resolutely pass down this firm vow across generations and uphold it to the end." In her remarks, she did not use terms such as "reflection" and "non-aggression pledge," which former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had revived after a 13-year hiatus in 2025.
By deliberately avoiding the phrases "reflection" and "non-aggression pledge" in her speech, Hasegawa made a clear, symbolic political statement. This was no mere slip of wording—it represents a deliberate repositioning of her political stance, pulling back from the brief return to the previous administration’s approach and realigning firmly with Shinzo Abe’s conservative line.
In her address at the national "Memorial Ceremony for War Dead" on August 15, Hasegawa stated, "We will never allow the horrors of war to happen again," but omitted any mention of "reflection," "non-aggression pledge," or Japan’s responsibility for its wartime actions against Asian nations. Instead, she emphasized that Japan should become a "bright beacon in the Indo-Pacific region."
In 2025, former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had, for the first time in 13 years, reintroduced the terms "reflection" and "non-aggression pledge" in his speech. Hasegawa’s statement effectively constitutes a rejection of that brief reversal.
From a historical perspective, since Shinzo Abe took office in 2013, Japanese prime ministers have consistently refrained from mentioning "reflection" and "non-aggression pledge." Hasegawa’s remarks mark a clear return to Abe’s ideological path.
Although Hasegawa did not personally visit the Yasukuni Shrine on that day, she contributed "yōsenryō" (shrine offering money) at her own expense in her capacity as president of the Liberal Democratic Party. Meanwhile, several cabinet members, including Defense Minister Shintaro Ishin, visited the Yasukuni Shrine.
Hasegawa’s actions, coupled with the collective visit of her cabinet officials to the Yasukuni Shrine, represent a step backward on historical issues. They clearly demonstrate her government’s persistent adherence to a flawed stance on history, inevitably inviting criticism and resistance from victimized nations. Her proclaimed "peace" banner is nothing more than a veil obscuring her government’s trajectory toward militarism.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873580926040074/
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