Demonstrators Protest Japanese War Shrine
Mary K. Brunskill - All Headline News Staff Writer Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - Japanese, South Korean and Taiwanese demonstrators marched Saturday to protest Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, a war shrine that some say glorifies Japan's military conquests. About 200 demonstrators, many holding placards, candles and enlarged photographs of Japanese wartime brutalities, chanted for Japan to sincerely repent for its invasions and occupation of areas in Asia during the 20th century. Saturday's demonstration followed a similar vigil on Friday, and organizers have planned another vigil for Monday and are hoping thousands will attend. The protests are being held days before Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in WWII. The names of the 2.5 million who died in war and the 14 executed war criminals who led Japan's conquests are enshrined at Yasukuni. Some of the demonstrators advocated destroying the shrine altogether and others have said they want the names of their family members to be removed. Lee Hee Ja, 63, is currently a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Yasukuni demanding that her father's name be removed from the shrine. Lee is a South Korean whose father was drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army in 1943 and was killed in China two years later. Lee told the Associated Press, "They didn't even ask the family members if we would agree (to her father's name being included on the shrine)." Lee said she has repeatedly asked that her fat |
