Koizumi's present "popular mandate" rests on the notion that he will reform politics and "fix" the economy; however, his first utterance upon attaining office was to propose weakening Article 9. Koizumi fits the pattern of "populist" politicians who deliberately risk or "spend down" their political capital in order to shove reactionary "reforms" down the throats of the populace.
One of the key "foundation myths" of the postwar regime is repeated here: that the pre-surrender "sacrifices" laid the foundation for the post-war prosperity. (The other is Hirohito's "pacifist innocence").
Will Koizumi clap hands once, or twice? (Yasuhiro Nakasone, in a ridiculous avoidance / denial maneuver, claimed that he had not violated the constitutional separation of religion and state in his visit, because he had only clapped and bowed "once"). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, August 3 3:57 PM SGT
Conservative Japan supports Koizumi's war shrine pilgrimage
TOKYO, Aug 3 (AFP) -
A planned pilgrimage by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to a Tokyo
war shrine received a boost Friday from a galaxy of people
representing conservative Japan, despite being widely condemned by
Asian neighbours.
"The people are truly delighted with Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to
the Yasukuni Shrine," read the banner headline in a two-page opinion
advertisement published in the conservative Sankei Shimbun
newspaper.
It carried the names of more than 4,000 advocates of the premier's
plan, ranging from academics to business leaders to families of the war dead.
Among them was Kanji Nishio, a university professor and co-author
of a school history textbook accused by many Asian nations of
glossing over Japan's wartime atrocities.
"Let us offer prayers of gratitude to the war dead who have laid the
cornerstone of peace," the advert said.
Koizumi has vowed to visit the Shinto shrine, dedicated to those who
died in World War II including General Hideki and other convicted
war criminals, on August 15 -- the 56th anniversary of Japan's
surrender to the US-led allied forces.
China as well as North and South Korea have strongly denounced the
idea which they argue would justify Japan's military past along with a
controversial school history textbook approved for usage by Tokyo.
At home, the Buddhist-backed Komeito party, a junior partner of the
prime minister's ruling coalition, and Japan's foreign minister, have
asked Koizumi to reconsider his plan, which they say could breach
constitutional rules on the separation of state and religion.
An opinion poll of 2,115 voters, published last week by the Kyodo
news agency ahead of key parliamentary upper-house elections,
showed only one-third supported the planned visit.
Thanks largely to the popularity of its leader, Koizumi's conservative
Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) reinforced its strength in the national
elections, largely seen as a referendum for a drastic economic and
fiscal reform plan pledged by the premier.
In a meeting with coalition party leaders Friday, Koizumi said he
would make a final decision on the visit "after careful consideration,"
according to party officials.
But the newspaper advert touted the "voice of the people" supporting
his Yasukuni pilgrimage.
Many conservative politicians pay homage to the shrine. In 1985
Yasuhiro Nakasone became the first and only post-World War II
Japanese premier to do so in an official capacity.
"My mother says that Japanese children can live affluently today
because people in old days did not dwell on their own interests but
worked hard for children, grandchildren and the future of Japan,
sometimes at the cost of their lives," said an entry signed by a
10-year-old Kaoru Mizukawa.
"I will be glad if Prime Minister Koizumi expresses in his prayer such a
feeling of gratitude," it added.
Hatsuko Kamei, a 93 year-old woman, wrote: "I believe that Prime
Minister Koizumi is what gods and Buddha have sent to save the
country of Japan."
The campaign was organised by a group of 18 celebrities and backed
by 90 influential individuals from different walks of life.
They included novelist Hiroyuki Agawa, whose stories reflect his
experience as a naval officer, former ambassador to Thailand Hisahiko
Okazaki and Yoshinori Kobayashi, a controversial cartoonist reputed
for his nationalistic zeal.
Also among them was Hiroo Onoda, a former Japanese soldier who
waged lone "intelligence" warfare in the jungles of the Philippines'
Lubang Islands for 30 years after the war ended.