The Japanese’s Yasukuni Shrine
It is interesting to see how Japanese ministers, or more specifically the Prime Minister of Japan, Koizumi, insisted visiting the Yasukini Shrine despite international outcries.
“…Later, Koizumi told reporters he had gone to the shrine to “pray for peace” but also insisted that other countries had no right to “tell Japan how it should honor its war dead.”…”
He was partially right.
The issue is not about visiting the shrine; the issue is about the inclusion of convicted World War II criminals in the shrine for worshipping.
Please imagining this scenario: Chancellor Merkel proposes to build a Memorial for Hitler, to give him the status of national hero and to visit the memorial at least once a year in her personal capacity.
Japan is doing exactly just this for over 60 years.