Demonstration at Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, 2010 - Japanese WWII Surrender Day

Aug 15, 1945 65 years old Japan officially surrendered and thereby ending World War II. Every year nationalistic rightwing groups gather to protest the Peace Anti-War demonstrators at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. Yasukuni Shrine dates back to the mid-19th Century and it is a shrine for all those died serving the Emperor. In 1978 the spirits of Class A war criminals were enshrined there and official government visits there have often sparked outrage with Asian countries who suffered from Japan's actions in WWII.

The Peace Party marched through a gauntlet of rightwingers surrounded by police in riot gear. Some of the rightwingers would make for the Peace party but would always get stopped by the police. Some of it seem a bit more for show especially this day as it was so freaking hot. I don't think either had the energy to really duke it out.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Japan
• Yasukuni
• WWII
• August-15
• protest
• rightwing
• Yasukuni-shrine
• Tokyo
• VJ-Day

[skykid]

Imperial Europe and America created Imperial Japan. The cost was not national identities but the blood of hapless citizens and soldiers who wanted nothing more than to defend their home country with pride.

[RoninDave]

@skykid How were they defending their home country in China ?

[mannie71170]

that RISING SUN Flag should`nt be use again by the JAPS..they're just reminding their ASIAN neighbor for what their ancestor did in WW2... The German Never use a Swastika again after WW2..

[RoninDave]

@mannie71170 the rising sun predates WWII whereas the Nazi Swastika was designed specifically for the Nazi party

[endricks346]

@RoninDave Even though the rising sun predates WWII, it is symbolic of Japan's nationalism and crimes committed against their Asian neighbors. Also, the Nazi Swastika wasn't specifically designed for the Nazi party. The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used in the East for over 3000 years. The Nazis subverted the swastika, which comes from Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good," and "asti" meaning "to be". The Nazis tainted it. Do some research before you run your mouth next time.

[RoninDave]

@endricks346 run my mouth? What pray tell are you babbling about? The Nazi Swastika FYI is not the traditional swastika. Anyone who knows anything about Buddhism can tell you that though Native Americans also used the swastika. The Nazi Swastika is its own unique form which represents the Nazis and nothing else. The rising sun predates WWII-era Japan & does not represent only that time period. There is a difference so next time why don't YOU do some research before You run your mouth next time?

[nicck]

@RoninDave It's half true. Western bigotry basically alienated Japan in the international community (especially concerning their navy). They weren't seen as an equal nation and this gave rise to the militarist groups in Japan.

[skykid]

@pakurangaguy Wicked people like you are just as bad as any war criminal. You should be shot.

[skykid]

@makokun9 If you think the Bakumatsu was anything but the people of Japan resisting the imperial influence of Western powers, then you're the naive one... Granted, they were always looking for ways to gain access to more resources, but it was the West that forced them to modernize at gunpoint, using only what their little Island could provide, the stakes being their ports, their land, their identities. Much like in Germany, this created a few ambitious men who led Japan down the path of evil.

[makokun9]

@skykid That is a very naive and laughable interpretation of what really took place back then. Your stupidity is above and beyond everything, and it saddens me as much as it makes me laugh.

[acdefabcdefabcdef]

信教の自由を解体しようとする奴は信教の自由を無視するのかね？

それとも共産主義者なのかな？

靖国神社参拝は個人の自由のはずだが、個人の自由を批判する人は­自由主義も否定するの？

[pakurangaguy]

Get over it, little japs...Japan has defeated and US military stepping foots on your soil! Their men shall never being punished by Japanese law even if they raped japanese ladies

[6spdtls]

it's so sad.....japanese government is still allowing right wing party. this should be abolished at the time of surrender in 1945.

[zqdz123]

大日本帝国万岁！

靖国神社万岁！

日本解放亚洲，二战无罪。



[geridionarus]

i hope they didnt fight in the end of the day the anti war movmend would have lost.^^

1the Tenno ist put on the lvl o a war criminal by them , kyoto ist the center of the Tenno Believers so they would be butcherd.^^

2The police taht protect them have the seal of the Tenno what makes them the Imperial Guard of the National Police Agency if i am not mistaking so they are Tennoists

3.the WW Iiw as bad and all but this Tenno had nothing to do with it.

3reasons i hope it went peacfully.

[benitofinito]

They celebrate surrendering? I would be with the right-wingers on this one thanks.