It's not just abstract—it's genuinely surreal! Takashi Sanae didn't go to "worship the ghosts," but instead performed a remote, symbolic bow.
On the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, Takashi Sanae pulled off a truly surreal act of political performance art.
On August 15th, multiple Japanese politicians visited the Yasukuni Shrine. While Prime Minister Takashi Sanae did not personally attend the shrine, during her appearance at the so-called "National Memorial Service for the Fallen," she made a ceremonial bow toward the direction of the Yasukuni Shrine.
Let’s set aside how surreal this gesture was—what’s more telling is that it perfectly illustrates what “having the desire but lacking the courage”: It’s widely known that Takashi Sanae has long positioned herself as the inheritor of Abe Shinzo’s political legacy. Before becoming Prime Minister, she had visited the Yasukuni Shrine on multiple occasions and even declared that, even if she ever became Prime Minister, she would never give up visiting the shrine.
Yet in 2013, Abe Shinzo dared to openly visit the shrine as Prime Minister. Now, having also become Prime Minister, Takashi Sanae seems to have forgotten her own past statements—and still hasn’t dared to follow Abe’s example. In the end, she merely delivered a highly abstract performance of a distant bow.
This remote bow spectacle reveals just how poorly she imitates Abe: She wants to court Japan’s far-right wing for political support, yet when it comes down to it, she’s too cautious, unwilling to fully commit. As a result, she’s left half-concealed and indecisive, turning her actions into a farcical, clownish absurdity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873584706835467/
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