Former Osaka Governor and lawyer Toru Hashimoto (56) appeared on Fuji Television’s “Sunday News THE PRIME” (7:30 PM Sunday) on the 26th. As a conservative politician, he asked new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (64) to “deal with the Yasukuni issue. In his policy speech, Prime Minister Takaichi declared that he would push the ratio of Japan’s national defense to 2% of GDP by FY2027. In the midst of his talk about strengthening the defense capability, Hashimoto said, “Around Mr. Takaichi and the Restoration Association as well, we are saying that China is inexcusable and that we will take a resolute attitude toward China. China’s military power is amazing, isn’t it? We have to accept this calmly. According to published data, China’s annual military expenditure is about 34 trillion yen. And we can’t use all of the U.S. military power, so I would like you to compare the military power of China with that of Australia, South Korea, and other countries on the Pacific side, and see how much difference there is. He added, “Reinforcing defense is important, but I think that Japanese politics, which keeps running away from the last piece of the puzzle, the prime minister’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine, does not have the backbone of the Japanese nation at the end. The prime minister has to be able to provide defense, equipment, and diplomacy as the backbone of the nation, and he has to be able to visit Yasukuni Shrine and pay his respects to the soldiers there. When asked, “Which do you have more expectations or concerns about Prime Minister Takaichi? Hashimoto replied, “Of course, I have high expectations for him to move Japan,” but he added, “However, many politicians who call themselves conservatives say that they want to revise Article 9 of the Constitution, strengthen diplomacy and security, and take a firm stance against China. I agree with them. But the most important part of conservatism, the spiritual pillar of the nation, is the prime minister’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine. And more specifically, the worship of His Majesty the Emperor. How can a country be in the center of the world if its leaders do not join hands with ordinary soldiers who have given their lives for their country? Politicians who call themselves conservatives nowadays are opportunistic, saying, “Let’s stop visiting Yasukuni because the political situation is not good,” or “Let’s go there when the political situation improves. This is opportunism. Only such a country can become the center of the world, where foreign leaders can visit Yasukuni at any time. I think the time has come to stop the opportunism of politicians and change the environment on the Yasukuni side. I think it is conservative politics for the leaders of Japan and foreign leaders to join hands with ordinary soldiers when they visit Yasukuni,” he added emphatically.
