The trial in which the relatives of the war dead enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine demanded the removal of their names from the shrine's list was decided in 2012, with the plaintiffs losing. Since then, the relatives have annually visited Yasukuni Shrine to personally request the removal of the names. On October 27, 13 former members of the plaintiff group visited the Yasukuni Shrine office located in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, and requested a meeting.

This year, in a written response, the shrine stated, "We have nothing more to say." As a result, the plaintiff group submitted a petition requesting the removal of the enshrinement of 16 war dead to the reception area, while also reading out a protest statement.

"Yasukuni Shrine is strengthening its relationship with the Self-Defense Forces. Is it trying to become an institution for recruiting soldiers for new wars as it did before the war? Some people call this new 'pre-war' times. We will not accept Yasukuni Shrine's involvement in military preparations."

Let us first look back at the background of the lawsuit to remove the enshrinement. In August 2006, the relatives of eight Japanese and one Chinese-Taiwanese person who died during the Pacific War filed a lawsuit with the Osaka District Court, arguing that their family members were arbitrarily enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine, violating their right to freely choose how to mourn. They asked Yasukuni Shrine to remove their family members' names from the list of war dead at the shrine, and also requested compensation from the Japanese government because they had provided personal information about the war dead to the shrine. However, the court rejected the plaintiffs' demands.

Member of the plaintiff group, Ms. Y, said her uncle participated in the landing operation on Luzon Island, the Philippines in May 1942, and was dispatched to Leyte Island before the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where he died in October 1944. In her petition this year, Ms. Y wrote: "My uncle died in the war of aggression against the Philippines, and I firmly believe that I should fulfill my responsibility as a voter to prevent Japan from invading other countries again. However, the fact that Yasukuni Shrine enshrines my uncle as a god contradicts my life principles."

Regarding why Yasukuni Shrine refused to meet, Ms. Y pointed out: "Yasukuni Shrine has a close relationship with the Self-Defense Forces. Former Self-Defense Force generals serve as the chief priest (the highest priest of the shrine). I think they are very annoyed by our actions opposing the enshrinement." According to her speculation, "Considering the future, Self-Defense Forces personnel can also be enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine. They are eager to revive this essential shrine for continuing the war."

The rapid alignment between the Self-Defense Forces and Yasukuni Shrine has been made public in recent years. According to reports from multiple media outlets, in January 2024, 22 officials including the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force, Koike Hirotake, visited Yasukuni Shrine collectively.

In terms of personnel, in March 2024, for the first time, a retired Self-Defense Force general became the chief priest of Yasukuni Shrine; in July 2023, former Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force, Kibata Yoshihisa, became the head of the shrine's congregation.

Actions to revive the functions of pre-war Yasukuni Shrine are coming one after another.

In July 1954, the post-war police reserve force was reorganized into the Security Forces, the predecessor of the Self-Defense Forces. Because Japan enacted the Peace Constitution, Self-Defense Forces members could no longer die in war. However, since December 2003, Japan began dispatching Self-Defense Forces to the "non-combat areas" in the Iraq War, which raised the issue of how to commemorate the deaths of Self-Defense Forces members.

After sending Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, some Self-Defense Forces-related individuals began calling for the enshrinement of fallen Self-Defense Forces members at Yasukuni Shrine.

In July 2014, the Cabinet passed a resolution to amend the interpretation of the constitution, allowing the exercise of collective self-defense rights. The following September, the Security-related Laws were passed. Japan, which had always adhered to the principle of exclusive defense, was allowed to use force overseas, transforming into a "war-capable country." In December 2022, the then Cabinet approved the three security documents allowing Japan to possess the capability to strike enemy bases.

As the constitutional Article 9 is gradually being eroded, the Self-Defense Forces have accelerated their military buildup.

If Self-Defense Forces members die in war, can they be enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine? If the principle of separation of religion and state is strictly followed, the answer is no, but this principle is being gradually eroded. (Translated by Liu Lin)

This article was published in the Japanese weekly magazine "Friday" on December 5. The original title is "The Self-Defense Forces Are Accelerating Their Ties with Yasukuni Shrine."

Original: toutiao.com/article/7588344101704090118/

Statement: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.