High-profile far-right performance turns into a "worshipping ghosts" farce, redefining itself as "victimhood"

According to a report by Japan's Kyodo News on August 16: On her first defeat anniversary since taking office, Takashi Asahi staged a theatrical act of "remote bowing toward Yasukuni Shrine," driven by concerns over conservative factions' warning that "failure to visit Yasukuni means betrayal."

With declining approval ratings in her cabinet, during the "Memorial Ceremony for War Dead," she omitted the word "reflection," instead emphasizing her commitment to upholding the conservative stance established by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

On the 15th, Takashi arrived at the Nihon Budokan at 11:09 a.m., attending the national memorial ceremony for war dead. After waiting briefly in her vehicle, she got out at 11:18 a.m. and performed a remote bow—following Shinto tradition of two bows, two claps, one final bow—in the direction of Yasukuni Shrine. She then returned to the car, exited minutes later, and entered the Budokan.

Close aides of Takashi explicitly stated: "We paid our respects from afar to Yasukuni Shrine." It is extremely rare for a sitting prime minister to openly express devotion to Yasukuni Shrine.

To date, every serving prime minister has visited Yasukuni Shrine without exception—during their tenure as cabinet ministers, on the day of defeat, and during spring and autumn ceremonies.

During last year’s LDP presidential election, possibly due to considerations for moderate factions within the party, she avoided addressing whether she would visit if elected prime minister. In the 2024 presidential race, however, she clearly expressed her desire to continue visiting.

Yet, since assuming office in October last year, she appears to have been concerned about relations with China and South Korea, and thus skipped the spring ceremonial visit this year. On the 15th, besides the "remote bowing," she personally covered the cost of the offering (yōkō) via the LDP secretary-general who attended the shrine in her place.

According to public opinion surveys conducted by major Japanese media outlets, support for Takashi’s cabinet is declining, and her originally solid base of support is beginning to crumble.

A close aide of Takashi said: "Bowing from a distance was also something Abe considered. We did our utmost. This is a 'quarter-step' toward genuine visitation."

With Sino-Japanese relations cooling after Takashi’s remarks on "Taiwan emergency," a former LDP cabinet minister who maintains distance from her stated: "China will categorize Takashi’s remote bowing as an official visit."

The opposition has also issued strong criticism. The leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance bluntly called it a mere "performance for supporters."

Led by senior figures in Komeito, the move was labeled "cunning," while officials from the Japanese Communist Party denounced: "Remote bowing is equivalent to an official visit. It’s a foolish act aimed at appeasing supporters."

Evidently, reactions to Yasukuni Shrine are no longer confined to conservative circles. During her speech at the national memorial ceremony for war dead, Takashi avoided using the term “reflection” associated with former Prime Minister Ishiba, which had been consistently upheld by Abe since 2013.

Takashi also made statements noticeably different from previous prime ministers. She altered Abe’s phrase “the horrors of war cannot happen again” to “we must never allow the horrors of war to happen again,” subtly shifting meaning—transforming Japan from being perceived as the aggressor in war to appearing as a victim of war. JCP representative Koike criticized: "She portrays Japan as a victim. A nation that refuses to reflect on its wartime crimes is not trustworthy."

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873653938937867/

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