PAN-2006-03-10 Tokyo, Japan
SHOW NOTES - episode 034: Show from Tokyo, Japan
All war is hell. This week I visit the Japan Yasakuni Shrine in Tokyo. (www.yasukuni.or.jp). The Yasukuni Shrine (which means literally “peaceful nation shrine”) is a controversial Shinto shrine located in Tokyo, Japan dedicated to the spirits of soldiers who died fighting on behalf of the Japanese emperor.
As of October 2004, its Book of Souls lists the names of 2,466,532 Japanese and former colonial soldiers (mostly Korean and Taiwanese) killed in war. Also honored here are 14 Japanese Class A war criminals, a fact which has engendered protests in a number of neighboring countries who believe their presence indicates a failure on the part of Japan to fully atone for its military past. Prime minister Junichiro Koizumi’s successive visits to the shrine, since 2001, have been a significant cause of outcries in China, South Korea and others countries.
I do not believe that the associated war memorial at this Shrine is a fair and unbiased view of the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War. The atrocities committed in China during 1937 are politely refered to as a rebellion and the attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941 is called a forced defence against the US who were to strike Japan. It does not appease or educate modern Japanese of the futilitity or crime against humanity committed by Japan during this period in history.
Overall, it is not for the faint hearted westerner due to the bias of the Japanese which I believe is a very sad fact. It is clean, very professional and orderly but lacking military and historical accuracy. Cost 800 Yen.
I also have a sound tour of the the main Japan airport, Narita International Airport which is located outside the main area of Tokyo.
Japanese singer/songwriter. JH sings about everyday life of an ordinary office worker, which is what he really is for most of the time apart from being a singer/songerwriter. JH is also an avid snowboader and bodyboarder. Jesushairdo “Issai Gassai + Hakushu Kassai”
Ammuff - The 1978 Niigata birth. From one’s high school days, house recording is begun and it results soon calls himself a radio head…
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PAN-2006-03-10.mp3 21mb (30 min) 96kbps] 
