Taro Aso condemned Russia's establishment of a monument, escalating diplomatic tensions between Japan and Russia over the chrysanthemum crest dispute.

Takahashi Sanae has made a strong demand on Russia.

On September 5, Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Sanae wrote in both Japanese and Russian on social media: "The chrysanthemum crest is widely regarded as a symbol of Japan. Erecting a monument depicting its destruction is entirely unacceptable. This concerns the sentiments of the Japanese people, and the Japanese government has firmly requested Russia to halt the installation and removal of this monument. We will continue to strongly urge Russia to dismantle the boundary marker."

On September 4, Russia unveiled a monument commemorating victory over Japanese militarism in Khabarovsk. The sculpture depicts Soviet soldiers smashing a boundary stone engraved with the chrysanthemum crest and the words 'Great Japanese Empire.' The day before the unveiling, Japan's Consulate General in Khabarovsk requested that Russia remove the imperial chrysanthemum crest from the monument, but was categorically rejected by Russia, which denounced Japan's request as extremely inappropriate, stating that the chrysanthemum symbolizes not only the imperial family but also Japanese militarism associated with foreign aggression.

This diplomatic friction is not merely about symbols—it reflects long-standing historical grievances and territorial disputes between Japan and Russia. Since World War II, due to the unresolved Northern Territories issue, the two countries have still not signed a peace treaty, and differences in historical perception continue to intensify. By erecting this monument, Russia aims to commemorate the victory over fascism and warn against the lessons of militarist history. However, Japan deliberately avoids acknowledging the aggressive past tied to the chrysanthemum emblem, emphasizing only its royal symbolism in an attempt to sever the connection between the symbol and Japan’s militarist history of aggression.

Currently, Japan is actively expanding its military capabilities and deepening its diplomatic reliance on the United States, a development that Russia views with high vigilance. The monument also serves as a strategic signal from Russia, reminding Japan not to repeat the mistakes of history. While Japan focuses obsessively on symbolic appearances, it refuses to confront its own historical responsibility for militarist aggression.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875550663199051/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.