Japan Institute for National Fundamentals

　　　　　　　Yasukuni Shrine will observe its autumn festival this week. For Shinzo Abe who has long hoped to visit the shrine in his capacity as prime minister, the festival provides the best time to do so, given the present international circumstances. Nevertheless, media reports say he may fail to do so this time again. Rather than China or South Korea, the United States is now viewed as the largest hurdle against Prime Minister Abe's Yasukuni visit.
　　　　　　　A senior official of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said: "President (Barack) Obama　would not like to see any new problem raised with China. Preoccupied with domestic problems in addition to the problems of the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, North Korea and Syria, the Obama administration views a Japan-China friction as a new burden."

Bureaucrats working hard to block Abe
　　　　　　　Those who have opposed the prime minister's Yasukuni visit from the beginning easily fall in line with the message sent by the Obama administration and are looking for reasons why Abe should not visit. Seiichi Eto, adviser to Prime Minister Abe, said amazingly:
　　　　　　　"Some among bureaucratic aides to the prime minister say they would risk their lives to block Abe's Yasukuni visit. They are doing so because they see the Abe administration as important and hope to make it a long-lasting administration."
　　　　　　　In overcoming China's and South Korea's anti-Japan criticisms emerging from the prime minister's possible Yasukuni visit, bureaucrats and politicians who support the Abe administration must take great care to get along with the United States as a matter of course. Therefore, they must respect the prime minister's real intention and analyze the international circumstances from the viewpoint of what they should do to maintain the fundamentals of Japan as a state, rather than how they should block Abe's Yasukuni visit.
　　　　　　　The United States has two reasons to oppose Prime Minister Abe's Yasukuni visit. First, the United States fears that Japan could revise history and destroy the international order established after World War II, as criticized by China. Second, the United States is concerned that a Japan-China friction could become a new burden on U.S. diplomacy.
　
Try to persuade Washington
　　　　　　　On the first reason, the Japanese government can allay Washington's misunderstanding. Sixty one years have passed since the conclusion of the Japan-U.S. security treaty, meaning Japan has remained a U.S. ally over more than a quarter of the U.S. history. Americans know how Japan has overcome the war and faithfully cooperated with the United States. They must have been aware that Japan has not been trying to revise history.
　　　　　　　As for the second reason, Japan must coolly continue to point out the facts. China, rather than Japan, has caused the problem. The international community has already been aware of China's autocracy that has brushed off international law. Being isolated is China. In any country, it is natural for its people to pray for those who died for the state. China and South Korea have taken advantage of such natural prayer for denouncing Japan. Japan must persuade Americans to understand that their joining hands with China and South Korea to denounce Japan would run counter to U.S. national interests.
　　　　　　　Degrading the Yasukuni prayer into a political tool has been a diplomatic approach where Japanese officials have been preoccupied with ulterior motives in such foreign countries as China, South Korea and the United States, and given priority to developing conditions meeting those foreign motives. It is important for Japan to have a quiet determination to continue demonstrating its basic attitude as a state. At a time when China is clearly autocratic, a resilient Japan can support the inward-looking United States. To this end, Prime Minister Abe should visit Yasukuni Shrine and explore a new horizon.

Yoshiko Sakurai is President, Japan Institute for National Fundamentals.