戦没者への敬意 More than a matter of respect

Japan Times

READERS IN COUNCIL

May 23, 2001

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi says that he will make an official visit to Yasukuni Shrine on August 15 to pay his respects to those who fought for their country and to make it clear that Japan must never again wage war.

Time and time again, visits by high-ranking Japanese officials to Yasukuni, which not only houses the ashes of common soldiers but also enshrines wartime leaders who were held responsible for waging wars of aggression and executed as A-class war criminals, have understandably sparked protests from those countries that were victims of Japanese imperialism. Koizumi must be well aware of the feelings of those countries that were victimized by the Japanese military.

He should also be aware of the possibility that he is violating the article in the Constitution guaranteeing the separation of church and state by visiting and praying at a Shinto shrine in an official capacity. If he does not feel that this is an issue, however, and that his official visit to Yasukuni does not imply that the Japanese government supports any particular religion, perhaps, then, he should offer his respects and prayers for peace at a Buddhist temple, Christian church, and Muslim mosque as well.

There is nothing wrong in paying respects to those who served their country. Instead of paying respects at a religious shrine that is at the center of international controversy, however, perhaps Koizumi should consider building a national cemetery similar to Arlington National Cemetery in the United States, where people of all faiths can pay their respects to those who served their country and pray for peace.

KO UNOKI Fujisawa, Kanagawa

小泉純一郎首相は、8月15日に靖国神社に公式参拝し、国のために戦った人々に敬意を表し、日本は二度と戦争をしてはならないことを明確にするという。

靖国神社は一般兵士の遺骨を納めるだけでなく、太平洋戦争における侵略行為を起こした責任を問われ、A級戦犯として処刑された戦時中の指導者を祀っている。日本の高官が何度も靖国を訪れると、当然ながら日本帝国主義の被害国から抗議の声が上がることになる。小泉首相は、日本軍によって被害を受けた国々の気持ちをよく理解しているはずである。

また、小泉首相は公式の場で神社に参拝することは、政教分離を保障する憲法の条文に違反する可能性があることも承知しているはずである。しかし、それが問題はなく、靖国参拝が日本政府が特定の宗教を支持することを意味しないとの御見解であれば、神社の他、仏教寺院、キリスト教の教会、ユダヤ教シナゴーグ、イスラム教モスクのそれぞれにでも平和への祈りを捧げればよいだろう。

国のために尽くした人に敬意を払うことは無論悪いことではない。しかし、国際的な論争の中心となっているある特定の神社に参拝する代わりに、小泉首相は米国のアーリントン国立墓地のような国立墓地を建設し、あらゆる宗教の人々が国のために尽くした人々に敬意を表し、平和を祈ることができるようにすることを検討すべきかもしれない。