Ex-PM to Abe: Get Serious on Yasukuni

The former Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuhiro Nakasone (picture), said, “Prime Minister Shinzo Abe needs to show his seriousness over the Yasukuni issue.”

He stated on September 28 in an exclusive interview with this paper, “(Abe) should not keep silence over the Yasukuni issue nor be hesitant to venture to clear his attitude over worshiping in the Yasukuni Shrine,” and added, “at least, he needs to say that he will take it seriously.”

Citing the fact that Seoul was his first destination for overseas state visit since his inauguration in 1982, the former P.M. emphasized “South Korea is one of the most important nations for Japan. Seoul and Tokyo need to keep in contact with each other and start talks as early as possible.”

Nakasone has been an advocate of post-war politics and is acclaimed as the mainstream of the Japanese right wing for his consistency of conservative policies such as support for the revision of Japan’s Peace Constitution and Basic Education Act. Abe, who is championing for the escape from post-war symptoms, is said to be widely inspired by Nakasone’s ideas.

Nakasone and Abe worked together last year in the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party’s new Constitution committee as an expert chairman of the sub-committee and as an acting chairman, respectively.

sya@donga.com