Takaichi's words stir concerns

The recent shifts in Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's wording on sensitive issues, including Japan's history of aggression and nuclear policy, have sparked domestic controversy.

Experts said the changes, coupled with moves by the ruling party over the Yasukuni war shrine and military expansion, reflect an increasingly overt militarist tendency in the Takaichi government.

They urged Tokyo to confront its history of aggression and improve ties with neighboring countries through diplomacy rather than military buildup.

On Saturday, the anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II, Takaichi made a monetary offering to the infamous Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 convicted Class-A war criminals. Several senior officials and political figures also visited the shrine.

Atsushi Koketsu, professor emeritus at Yamaguchi University, said Japanese politicians had once exercised relative restraint in visiting the war shrine, but such visits have become increasingly frequent since Takaichi took office last year, reflecting Japan's growing tendency toward militarism.

Koketsu called Yasukuni an "aggression shrine", saying politicians' renewed visits not only reopen painful historical memories for countries that suffered Japanese aggression, but also risk putting Japan back on the path toward aggression.

In her speech at the annual memorial in Tokyo marking Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, Takaichi omitted references to "remorse" and a "pledge never to wage war". Her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, had revived the phrases a year earlier, marking the first such references in 13 years to Japan's responsibility as a war aggressor.

For many Japanese people, such a shift is deeply troubling, Koketsu said. The anniversary should be an occasion for Japan to reflect on its history of aggression and apologize to its Asian neighbors, including China, he said. Instead, Takaichi ignored such public sentiment and focused on her own position, he said.

Japanese media also noted Takaichi's choice of wording. She altered a phrase long used by previous prime ministers, changing "(Japan) must never repeat the horrors of war" to "the horrors of war must never be repeated".

Koji Nakakita, a professor of Japanese political history at Chuo University, told The Asahi Shimbun that "must never repeat" emphasizes Japan's resolve not to wage war again, while "must never be repeated" could suggest that wars were started by other countries.

The wording could even imply that World War II was not a "war of aggression" launched by Japan, but a "war of self-defense" that it was forced to fight, he said.

Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor at Hosei University, told China Daily that such negative wording on the issue of war could be seen as provocative by countries that suffered from Japan's wartime aggression.

Nuclear policy

The controversy over Takaichi's wording extends beyond wartime history.

Earlier this month, at the atomic bombing memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Takaichi said Japan "is upholding the Three Non-Nuclear Principles", but stopped short of explicitly pledging to continue doing so, a subtle change that has raised questions in Japan.

Tatsuo Sekiguchi, head of a civic group in Nagasaki, said the absence of a clear commitment to uphold the principles in the future suggests the Takaichi government may be considering a review of the long-standing policy.

As a Nagasaki resident, Sekiguchi said he strongly opposes such a move, citing the enormous loss of life and prolonged suffering caused by the atomic bombing. Any remarks that could undermine the principles are unacceptable, he said.

Shiratori said the ambiguity over whether Japan will continue to uphold the principles, coupled with rising defense spending, reflects the country's growing "Japan first" tendency.

A supplementary budget for fiscal 2025 allowed Japan to reach its target of raising defense spending to 2 percent of GDP two years ahead of schedule, and the increase has continued unabated.

With the initial defense budget for fiscal 2026 reaching a record high, Japan's defense budget request for fiscal 2027 is reportedly set to rise further.

Shiratori said rising defense spending, along with a lack of consideration for neighboring countries, could further fuel concerns about Japan's remilitarization.

Rather than reinforcing a "Japan first" approach through military expansion, Japan should strengthen diplomacy and deepen cooperation and friendly ties with other Asian countries, he said.