Ministry of Foreign Affairs cancels briefing 5 minutes ago due to lack of understanding
Controversy is growing as the Japanese government decided to send a government representative as a government representative to the Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are enshrined, to a memorial service honoring the victims who were taken to the Sado Mine and forced into labor during the Japanese colonial period. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs was unable to even understand the history of visits to these shrines in advance, leading to criticism that it was a ‘diplomatic failure’. As the controversy over the history of visiting the shrine spread, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hastily canceled a briefing on the ‘Sado Mine Memorial Ceremony’ for reporters five minutes before the start.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 22nd that Akiko Ikuina (Vice Minister level), Minister for Political Affairs, will attend the ‘Sado Mine Memorial Ceremony’ to be held in Sado City, Niigata Prefecture on the 24th. At this memorial service, Political Affairs Officer Ikuina reads a eulogy. This memorial ceremony follows Japan’s promise to “hold a memorial ceremony every year for victim workers, including Koreans,” when Japan registered the Sado Mine, the site of forced labor, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July.
However, controversy arose when it became known that Political Affairs Officer Ikuina previously visited Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals from the Pacific War are enshrined, on August 15, 2022, the day of Japan’s defeat. It is highly inappropriate to send a person with such a history as a representative to an event commemorating Korean workers who suffered from forced labor.
In particular, the Korean government, which already knew about the attendance of political affairs officer Ikuina Ikuina, was said to have been unaware of the history of the problem, heightening the controversy. Regarding this Sado Mine event, there was previously controversy as it was reported that the Korean government would cover the costs of attending the memorial service for 11 Korean bereaved families.
Government did not know about Japan’s ‘extreme right-wing history’ at Sado Mine memorial ceremony… “Diplomatic failure”
Controversy over Yasukuni visit history
Decided not to request change of attendees from Japan
Our government has been requesting Japan to “send a high-ranking person of the rank of Minister of Political Affairs (Vice Minister) or higher as a representative.” To that extent, Political Affairs Officer Ikuina is a person worthy of our request in terms of rank.
However, it is pointed out that the Japanese government is ignoring Korea by selecting a person with a history of visiting Yasukuni Shrine as its representative in a situation where controversy is expected. An event planned to honor Korean workers may actually deepen the conflict between Korea and Japan.
In particular, when this controversy arose, our government was unable to hide its embarrassment, including canceling a scheduled press briefing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We will hold a press briefing at 2 p.m.” around 11:36 a.m. on this day, right after Japan announced that Political Affairs Officer Ikuina Ikuina had been selected as the representative. However, as controversy grew after his history of visiting the shrine became known, he unilaterally canceled the briefing at around 1:55 p.m., saying, “There is nothing I can say in the current situation.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on this night that there would be no change in the representative of the Japanese government, saying, “The political officer in question will deliver a eulogy as a representative of the Japanese government.” He said, “We have emphasized to one side that the attendance of high-ranking officials from the Japanese government is necessary to hold a sincere memorial service, and Japan has accepted this, and a Vice Minister-level political affairs official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has attended the memorial service.” The government is said to have considered Japan’s proposal to change the representative and decided not to do so. It was reported that about 10 bereaved family members of Sado Mine workers also decided to accompany the memorial service.
Some are concerned that this memorial ceremony may turn into a celebration of Japan’s listing as a World Cultural Heritage site. Previously, Japan’s Niig
Reporter Ko Do-ye yea@donga.com
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Dr. Hiroshi Tanaka, an expert on East Asian diplomatic relations
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Dr. Tanaka. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent controversy surrounding the Japanese government’s decision to send a representative to the Sado Mine Memorial Ceremony. Can you provide some context on this situation?
Dr. Tanaka: Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. The situation is quite complex and rooted in historical tensions between Japan and Korea. The Sado Mine was a site of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, and the memorial service is meant to honor the victims of this dark chapter. However, sending a representative with a history of visiting Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are enshrined, raises significant concerns, particularly among Koreans who view this as a lack of understanding and sensitivity.
Time.news Editor: That’s intriguing. It seems the choice of Political Affairs Officer Akiko Ikuina as the representative has been met with backlash. Why is her past visit to Yasukuni Shrine so problematic in this context?
Dr. Tanaka: The Yasukuni Shrine is a sensitive issue in Japan-South Korea relations. It commemorates those who died in service to Japan, including individuals convicted as war criminals. For many Koreans, a visit to this shrine is seen as a symbol of a refusal to acknowledge Japan’s wartime actions. By selecting someone with such a history to represent Japan at a memorial service for Korean victims of forced labor, it appears as though Japan is dismissing the importance of the event and the pain still felt by the victims’ families.
Time.news Editor: The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs hastily canceled a scheduled briefing just before it was set to begin. What does this indicate about their handling of the situation?
Dr. Tanaka: It suggests a significant miscalculation on the part of the Ministry. The cancelation of the briefing reflects their awareness of the impending backlash and a realization that their understanding of these complex historical issues is lacking. The abrupt decision could also point to internal confusion or pressure regarding how to address the controversy, which emphasizes what some have called a “diplomatic failure.”
Time.news Editor: How is the Korean government responding to this situation? They have expressed embarrassment and continued requests for a high-ranking representative from Japan, right?
Dr. Tanaka: Yes, that’s correct. The Korean government sought a higher-level representative to demonstrate sincerity in acknowledging the historical grievances. However, their choice of Ikuina, given her background, is seen as disrespectful and insensitive. They likely feel ignored by the Japanese government, especially since this incident may aggravate already tense diplomatic relations and overshadow the memorial itself.
Time.news Editor: Do you think this controversy might have long-lasting effects on Japan-Korea relations?
Dr. Tanaka: Absolutely. Events like these can exacerbate existing grievances and fuel nationalist sentiments on both sides. It may hinder efforts to improve relations and cooperation in other areas, such as trade or security. Both governments will need to engage in careful diplomatic communication moving forward to prevent further escalation.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. Tanaka, for sharing your insights on this tense situation. It highlights how intertwined history and diplomacy can be, and how crucial it is for nations to approach such sensitive issues with care and understanding.
Dr. Tanaka: Thank you for having me. It’s vital to continue discussions like this to promote awareness and understanding of these complex historical relationships.