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On December 26, DPJ President Banri Kaieda responded to reporters’ questions following the visit paid by Prime Minister Abe to Yasukuni Shrine. Kaieda pointed out, “No doubt he has a whole variety of personal feelings, but the position of Prime Minister is not compatible with one’s personal feelings or one’s position as a private individual, and in that sense he should have been refrained [from visiting Yasukuni].”
Kaieda added, “[The Prime Minister] should take the stance that the decision to refrain from visiting Yasukuni is an autonomous one made by Japan, and not related to other countries saying this or that.”
Kaieda was asked by a reporter what effect the Prime Minister’s action would have on Japan’s diplomacy, in a situation where leadership summits with China and the Republic of Korea remain unrealized. He responded, “The decision should have been taken with reference to a wider perspective, that includes such issues,” as well as repeating, “We believe that he should have looked at the situation from a broader and more comprehensive perspective, and refrained from making a visit.” Kaieda referred to the fact that an incumbent Prime Minister had not visited Yasukuni while the DPJ was in office, and stated, “In that sense, the Prime Ministers during our administration also each had their own personal feelings [regarding this issue], but they made the decision with reference to the big picture.”
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