Japan marks sovereignty day for 1st time
Source: Agencies |
April 29, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
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JAPAN for the first time yesterday officially marked the 61st anniversary of the day it regained sovereignty following its World War II defeat, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe steps up his nationalist campaign.
Yesterday's ceremony was the first government-sponsored event to mark the day. Similar events were previously held privately among ultra-conservative lawmakers, mainly from Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, and their right-wing supporters.
The proceedings were filled with nationalistic rituals considered symbols of the imperial warship that drove Japan to its 20th century aggression in Asia. The ceremony started with the singing of the controversial national anthem "Kimigayo" ("His Majesty's Reign"), and ended with "Banzai!" cheers for Emperor Akihito. There also was a huge rising sun decoration on the center stage.
During the ceremony, Abe urged Japanese to mark the day in their hearts, pledging to make Japan a stronger country with national pride. He said that 61 years ago, Japanese had high hopes and commitment to make a better Japan, adding that people today must live up to the expectations.
"We are obliged to make Japan strong and tough so our country becomes one that the rest of the world can count on," Abe said.
The ceremony was the latest in a series of nationalistic events and remarks that have invited harsh reactions from neighboring countries that suffered from Japan's wartime aggression.
Abe also infuriated China and South Korea by saying that there is no clear definition of "aggression" and that Japan will not "succumb to any threat."
Abe has also campaigned for recognizing Japan's Self-Defense Forces as a full-fledged national military, for revising Japan's past apologies for atrocities committed by its Imperial Army before and during World War II, and for upgrading the emperor's status to head of state, as outlined in the Liberal Democratic Party platform.
Celebrating April 28 as sovereignty recovery day invited harsh criticism from the southern island of Okinawa, where US occupation continued until 1972. In the Okinawan city of Ginowan, thousands of protesters staged a rally in a park to protest the ceremony.
Okinawa is home to nearly three-quarters of the US troops stationed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, causing deep-rooted anti-US sentiment on the island, as well as distrust toward Japan's central government for not doing enough to relieve the burden.
Yesterday's ceremony was the first government-sponsored event to mark the day. Similar events were previously held privately among ultra-conservative lawmakers, mainly from Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, and their right-wing supporters.
The proceedings were filled with nationalistic rituals considered symbols of the imperial warship that drove Japan to its 20th century aggression in Asia. The ceremony started with the singing of the controversial national anthem "Kimigayo" ("His Majesty's Reign"), and ended with "Banzai!" cheers for Emperor Akihito. There also was a huge rising sun decoration on the center stage.
During the ceremony, Abe urged Japanese to mark the day in their hearts, pledging to make Japan a stronger country with national pride. He said that 61 years ago, Japanese had high hopes and commitment to make a better Japan, adding that people today must live up to the expectations.
"We are obliged to make Japan strong and tough so our country becomes one that the rest of the world can count on," Abe said.
The ceremony was the latest in a series of nationalistic events and remarks that have invited harsh reactions from neighboring countries that suffered from Japan's wartime aggression.
Abe also infuriated China and South Korea by saying that there is no clear definition of "aggression" and that Japan will not "succumb to any threat."
Abe has also campaigned for recognizing Japan's Self-Defense Forces as a full-fledged national military, for revising Japan's past apologies for atrocities committed by its Imperial Army before and during World War II, and for upgrading the emperor's status to head of state, as outlined in the Liberal Democratic Party platform.
Celebrating April 28 as sovereignty recovery day invited harsh criticism from the southern island of Okinawa, where US occupation continued until 1972. In the Okinawan city of Ginowan, thousands of protesters staged a rally in a park to protest the ceremony.
Okinawa is home to nearly three-quarters of the US troops stationed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, causing deep-rooted anti-US sentiment on the island, as well as distrust toward Japan's central government for not doing enough to relieve the burden.
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