Scholar warns Yasukuni visits, nuclear debate push Japan down dangerous path

A prominent Japanese academic has strongly criticised recent tributes to the Yasukuni Shrine, warning that such acts, combined with shifting defence policies, are steering the country in a perilous direction.

Atsushi Koketsu, honorary professor at Yamaguchi University, said no form of homage to the shrine — including the symbolic tamagushi ritual offerings — should be undertaken. His remarks come after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made a monetary offering on the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, with several cabinet members, including Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, visiting the site in person.

The Yasukuni Shrine is regarded by many as a symbol of Japan's militarist past, as it honours 14 convicted Class-A war criminals responsible for grave wartime offences.

Koketsu also expressed regret over Japan's historical awareness, noting that 80 years after the Tokyo Trials, many groups and political figures still refuse to acknowledge established facts such as the Nanjing Massacre. He stressed that historical verdicts must not be challenged and that Japanese society must properly absorb the lessons of the trials.

Turning to security policy, the professor voiced alarm over discussions to revisit the country's Three Non-Nuclear Principles. He pointed to the upcoming security documents and the August 4 Defence White Paper as evidence of a growing atmosphere favouring re-examination of the principles, including debates on acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.

"Japan is steadily and forcefully pushing forward, step by step, toward nuclear armament," Koketsu said. "This must never be allowed to happen." He called for making the prevention of new nuclear-weapon states a national policy and for strict adherence to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.