Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faced stern criticism following his impromptu salute to the longevity of the Emperor of Japan at a ceremony held on April 28 to mark the restoration of the country's sovereignty seven years after the World War II. The ceremony commemorates April 28, 1952, when the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect, marking the official end of World War II and the allied occupation of Japan.
All those present at the ceremony joined Abe as he chanted "long live the emperor," three times at the end of the ceremony. The move, which for some evokes memories of a pre-World War II Japan, was greeting with surprise by Japanese government officials.
Suga Yoshihide, Japan's general secretary of the cabinet said at a press conference on April 30 that the ceremony was scheduled to end following Abe's closing address and Abe's chant was not scheduled or sanctioned by the government.
He added that Abe's chant was a spontaneous event which the government should not comment on.
Abe's actions provoked widespread criticism, both from within Japan and the international community, with many concerned at the prime minister's apparent nationalistic streak.
Natsuki Yamaguchi, the representative from New Komeito (NK) or New Clean Government Party (NCGP), which is in coalition with Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party commented that Abe may not have realized how his actions would be interpreted, especially in light of the fact that Japan's constitution entitles sovereignty to every citizen and the country's independence has long been recognized.
One unnamed Japanese media figure said it was the first time that the emperor, who has no direct relation with the function of government, had been hailed at the ceremony. He added that the salutation reminded him of the era prior to World War II.
In an editorial commenting on the issue, "The Yomiuri Shimbun", one of the most influential national newspapers in Japan, claimed that history must be reviewed in a calm fashion so that Japan and its people could understand how the country lost its sovereignty. The editorial went on to say that the initiators of the Pacific War, which was catastrophic to both Japan and the wider world, were the Japanese leaders who lost their international outlook. The article concluded that defeat and occupation were the consequences of such shortsightedness.
Criticism has not been confined to Japanese media, however. Britain's "Financial Times" commented that Abe's actions have put his nationalistic streak under scrutiny and predicted that under his continued right-leaning leadership, Japan's economic development will suffer.
Some voices in the South Korean media noted that despite Abe's hailing of the emperor at the ceremony, he made no move to apologize for the Japanese invasion during World War II.
Japan's famous "Asahi Shimbun" indicated in its editorial that Germany, which suffered defeat alongside Japan in World War II, has successfully reintegrated into the international community thanks to its remorseful acknowledgement of its part in history.
Some commentators also speculated that Abe will probably amend the Japanese constitution following the Liberal Democratic Party's sweeping victory at the house of councilors of Japan by-election.