Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issues related to Prime Minister Abe's visit to Yasukuni Shrine

(Abridged)

REPORTER: China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have objected strongly to the Prime Minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine. Could you tell us how the Japanese Government intends to respond to this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware that the Chinese and ROK Governments have issued statements and declarations in relation to the visit. I have been informed that in the case of China, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan visited Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki this afternoon to lodge a complaint. In response, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saiki asked the Ambassador to officially communicate the purport of the Prime Minister's statements to the Chinese Government. During his press conference, the Prime Minister stated that, "It is not my intention at all to hurt the feelings of the Chinese and Korean people. It is my wish to respect each other's character, protect freedom and democracy, and build friendship with China and Korea with respect, as did all the previous Prime Ministers who visited Yasukuni Shrine." The ROK and China are both important neighbors of Japan and we do not wish for issues related to Yasukuni Shrine to influence the overall bilateral relations with these two nations. Our policy to strengthen our relationship with these two countries from a broad perspective remains unchanged.

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REPORTER: I can clearly understand the content of what the Prime Minister was trying to say. However, while, subjectively, the Prime Minister may not have meant to hurt anyone's feelings, I believe that the Government anticipated how the visit would be viewed objectively and knew that it would attract criticism. To cite an extreme scenario, other country could exploit the visit for use in propaganda and use it as justification for an attack on Japan. How did you weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the visit and how did you determine national interest in terms of foreign diplomacy? I would also like to ask if the Prime Minister gave priority to personal sentiment. Could you explain to us how the Government weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of the visit in terms of national interest or foreign diplomacy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, I believe that no matter what country you are from, it is a natural practice to clasp our hands together to pray for the repose of the souls of those who sacrificed their precious lives in battle for their country and express our respects. I understand that the Prime Minister made the recent visit to Yasukuni Shrine in a private capacity. Therefore, I believe that it is a matter of personal religious freedom and the Government should not interfere. The Abe administration's understanding of history and approach to foreign diplomacy remains unchanged. The Prime Minister hopes that the recent visit does not turn into a political or a foreign diplomacy issue. Therefore, as I said earlier, the Prime Minister does not at all mean to hurt the feelings of the people of China or the ROK. In response to criticisms, we will explain our stance humbly and sincerely so as to gain understanding.

REPORTER: I would like to ask another question. You said that the Prime Minister visited the shrine in a private capacity, but it appears to me that the Prime Minister prioritized his private interests over those of the nation in relation to diplomatic concerns and criticisms, and other disadvantages. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I just said, and as the Prime Minister said during his press conference, I believe that it is a common practice around the world for leaders of our respective nations to clasp our hands together to pray for the repose of the souls of those who sacrificed their precious lives in battle for their country, leaving behind their mothers, wives and children. This is the same as what Prime Minister Abe and previous Japanese Prime Ministers have done. We will make every effort to ensure that people understand that the visit means nothing more than that. In light of this, since the end of the war, Japan has pursued freedom and democracy, and has consistently walked the path of a peaceful nation. There is no doubt whatsoever that we will maintain this basic stance. This is what the Prime Minister said during the press conference following his visit to the Shrine.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: May I ask just one more question? I would like to ask something very fundamental for my final question. I understand that the Prime Minister emphasized that the recent visit was for the ordinary war dead. However, Yasukuni Shrine also enshrines Class A war criminals and there are a number of views as to where responsibility for the war lies, with some claiming that the war was a defensive war. This view has attracted much criticism and I would like to ask about the Prime Minister's opinion on the responsibility of the war leaders, excluding the Class A war criminals, enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine. I think that this cannot be treated as a separate matter and is objectively the reason for so much controversy. What is your response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister visited the shrine in a private capacity so I must therefore refrain from commenting on behalf of the Government. I believe that the Prime Minister's opinion has been adequately expressed in the statements issued today. The Prime Minister said that, "Since the end of the war, Japan has expressed remorse for the past and has upheld fundamental human rights and built a democratic and free nation." The Prime Minister also said "This is where Japan stands as it strives to contribute to world peace. I would like to make it clear that Japan does not intend to change this stance." I believe this is what the Prime Minister said today following his visit to Yasukuni Shrine.

REPORTER: My question may be related to the previous question. The former president of Nippon Izokukai (Japan War-Bereaved Families Association), Makoto Koga made a comment in relation to the recent visit to Yasukuni Shrine saying that he hopes that the visit will prompt more active discussion, including discussions by Nippon Izokukai, on the separate enshrinement of Class A war criminals. Does the Government intend to address the issue by furthering discussions on matters such as separate enshrinement or constructing a national commemoration facility?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand that this is the current opinion of Nippon Izokukai, but the Government has, at this time, no intention to take any immediate action in relation to this.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on the same topic. Prime Minister Abe said earlier during a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) online video program in relation to the visit to Yasukuni Shrine that the misunderstanding has already begun to escalate in the U.S. The Prime Minister also said that he will take this opportunity to provide a thorough explanation and resolve the misunderstanding. Does the Government intend to do the same in the U.S.? Could you also tell us if Japan notified the U.S. in advance of the visit?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As for the Prime Minister's visit, you are asking how Japan dealt this in terms of foreign relations, but as this is a matter pertaining to foreign diplomacy, I must therefore refrain from commenting with specific details. We did however provide appropriate explanations to the nations concerned.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask another question on the same topic. The Prime Minister once said that it was extremely regrettable that he had not been able to visit the shrine, and therefore he visited the shrine to make a pledge for peace. I now fully understand his reasons for visiting, but what I do not understand, even after hearing both your and the Prime Minister's press conferences, is the reason for the visit occurring today. There were a number of opportunities throughout the year, for instance the annual festivals in spring and autumn or August 15. What exactly was the major reason for the Prime Minister choosing today all of a sudden, rather than any other day?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that during the press conference following the visit, the Prime Minister said that he offered prayers and made a pledge to the war dead, upon reaching the one-year anniversary of his inauguration, that Japan is determined to build a peaceful nation and to ensure that its people never again experience the sufferings and devastation of war. I understand that the timing was to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Prime Minister's inauguration.

REPORTER: As for prior notifications of the visit, you stated earlier that Japan provided the appropriate explanations to the concerned nations. Could you tell us by what means the Government communicated this information?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Your question concerns diplomatic issues so I must refrain from commenting.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Earlier you stated that the Prime Minister fulfilled the promise he made to the public through this visit. Do you think that as the Prime Minister continues to lead the Government that he will keep visiting Yasukuni Shrine, or do you think that now that the campaign pledge has been fulfilled, he will not visit again?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have absolutely no idea. However, as I said earlier, the Prime Minister had said publicly during the lead up to the LDP Presidential election and the House of Representatives election that it was extremely regrettable that he was not able to visit Yasukuni Shrine at the time of the first Abe administration. The Prime Minister promised the people that he would make a visit. I understand that this is why the Prime Minister visited the shrine today.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I wonder if, in the first place, it really makes sense to say that something that could affect the entire nation or have diplomatic consequences can be conducted in a private capacity. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that, needless to say, the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, even if the individual concerned is the Prime Minister. In this context, visiting the shrine in a private capacity is the choice of the individual, and therefore to date, former prime ministers have visited the shrine  often.

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