Conversation

The Religious Cult Secretly Running Japan

Abe was a member of fascist group Nippon Kaigi. They claim Imperial Japan’s war crimes were exaggerated or fabricated, and praise Japanese colonialism for “liberating” Asia from the West. In 2014, 15/18 of Abe's cabinet were Nippon Kaigi members.

thedailybeast.com

Nippon Kaigi, a small cult with some of the country’s most powerful people, aims to return Japan to pre-WWII imperial ‘glory.’ Sunday’s elections may further its goal.

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Abe praised his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, who played a leadership role for Imperial Japan. At the end of WWII, Kishi was imprisoned as a suspected Class A war criminal, but the US govt never charged him. Instead, he became Japan’s prime minister. bbc.com/news/world-asi

Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi (left) with US Ambassador to Japan Douglas MacArthur in 1957

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Abe also visited the Yasukuni Shrine on multiple occasions despite opposition from China and Korea. The Yasukuni Shrine enshrines Japan’s war criminals. koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20

Shinzo Abe walks in the Yasukuni Shrine behind a monk dressed in long silk clothing and next to several security forces in 2013.

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Shinzo Abe walks in the Yasukuni Shrine behind a monk dressed in long silk clothing in 2020.

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Shinzo Abe walks in the Yasukuni Shrine next to several security forces in 2021.

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Will Japan retract its sex slave apology?

Abe refused acknowledgement of Japan's WWII sexual slavery known euphemistically as the “comfort women” system. Abe disavowed and considered repealing the 1993 Kono Statement which acknowledged and apologized to comfort women.

theworld.org

Japan's new prime minister hints he will revise landmark sex slave statement, replace WWII apology with a “forward looking statement.”

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In 2015, Abe and Park Geun-hye settled an agreement to help former “comfort women.” Yet, no victims were consulted and the agreement did not reflect their demands. Abe later reaffirmed his stance that the “comfort women” system was not a war crime. reuters.com/article/us-sou

Former comfort woman Kil Un-ock, forced into sexual slavery to Japanese troops during World War II, attends a rally protesting a U.S. visit by Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

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Japan Cites ‘National Security’ in Free Trade Crackdown. Sound Familiar? (Published 2019)

In Oct 2018, south Korea’s Supreme Court issued the opinion that Japanese corporations that used slave labor from Korea during WWII must pay $89K in reparations to surviving slave laborers. In response, Abe declared a trade war.

nytimes.com

Tokyo has moved to limit exports of chemicals to big South Korean chip makers like Samsung, citing vague threats to Japan’s security. Seoul says a political dispute is the real reason for the move.

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The existential crisis facing North Korean schools in Japan

Under Abe, the government revoked subsidies for Joseon schools for Zainichi Koreans in Japan, taking a hard line against Koreans in Japan. Zainichi Koreans experience systemic discrimination and hardship.

aljazeera.com

Around 70 Joseon schools in Japan have funding slashed by the government and are targeted by nationalist organisations.

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Okinawa referendum rejects new US military base but Abe likely to press on

Abe also also targeted Okinawa, suffering doubly under Japanese colonialism and US imperialism. In 2019, Abe agreed to relocate a US military base in Okinawa, despite over 70% of its people voting against it in a referendum.

theguardian.com

Tokyo sees controversial plan for new base at Henoko as key to US security alliance

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Shinzo Abe upheld US imperialism in Asia, taking a hard line against north Korea and China. He actively contributed to continuing the legacy of Japanese colonialism by erasing of Japan’s war crimes against enslaved Koreans.

A South Korean protester attaches fake money on a picture of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an anti-Japan rally outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 5, 2019.

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Abe’s LDP party is using the assassination to accuse opponents of being traitors and political violence. Japan's elections are in 2 days. The defense budget, constitutional reform, and anti-discrimination measures are all on the line. We must keep a watchful eye on the future.

Candidates' posters for the July 10, 2022 Upper House election are displayed along a street in Tokyo, Japan

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@DickOkull

Replying to

𝕗𝕠𝕟𝕪 (Havana syndrome survivor)

After militarization of Japan with billions of dollars worth of "defensive weapons" in the end he was taken down with a toy gun.

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@fonytauci