Japanese lawmakers send shameful message

It is natural that people in those countries that endured the aggression of the Japanese before and during World War II should consider the Yasukuni Shrine to be a symbol of Japan's militarism.

And it is reasonable that people in Asian countries that suffered as a result of Japan's imperialist aggression should consider Japanese politicians paying visits to the shrine as being a sign of their lack of remorse for the atrocities the occupying Japanese forces inflicted on the people of these countries.

Whatever is on the minds of Japanese lawmakers when they pay tribute to the dead honored at the shrine, including convicted war criminals, it is not difficult for the people in countries Japan invaded to interpret the visit as a message to the world that some Japanese politicians refuse to admit from the bottom of their hearts that some of their countrymen committed war crimes.

It is no coincidence that the group of more than 100 lawmakers, including nine vice-ministers and special aides in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, should choose Dec 7 as the day to pay homage to the war dead interred at the shrine.

What will the American people think? It was on this very day 80 years ago that the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,000 US navy soldiers and civilians.

If they really treasure the peace today for which many US soldiers sacrificed their lives during World War II, they will be as outraged as those in Asia who have denounced the visit and will add their voices to the chorus of condemnation.

When people in the US are holding a ceremony to remember those who were killed at Pearl Harbor, there should be no reason for them to turn a blind eye to the Japanese lawmakers honoring, among others, those who masterminded the Pearl Harbor attack.

Yes, we should let bygones be bygones. But it is the mentality of some in Japan that won't allow that since they show no real remorse for the wrongs Japan committed and instead insist on shamefully making a show of their obstinate refusal to do so.

To acknowledge wholeheartedly the wrongs that were done is the premise that it will never happen again.