video Video
Shinzo shrine visit prompts backlash
Thursday, December 26, 2013 - 01:41
Dec. 26 - A controversial move by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe generates backlash in the region. Julie Noce reports.
▲ Hide Transcript
▶ View Transcript
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe angered countries in the region Thursday by visiting a controversial shrine that honours Japan's war dead. The Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo is dedicated to those who died in war- as well as Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal. Chinese and South Korean leaders have consistently critised Japanese politicians who visit the shrine. As he was leaving, Abe said he prayed for those who lost their lives and that he didn't mean to offend anyone. (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, SHINZO ABE, SAYING: "I have absolutely no intention of hurting the feelings of the people of China and Korea from the very beginning. That is the same thinking of all the prime ministers before me who have visited Yasukuni Shrine." Still, the move was not taken lightly. A spokesperson for the South Korean government said it was impossible NOT to express anger over the act and said the shrine beautifies war. And in China, a similar sentiment. The Chinese government condemned Japanese leaders for ruthlessly trampling the feelings of Chinese people, a foreign ministry spokesperson said. We urge Japan to reflect on its' history of aggression. Some political experts say Abe likely chose to visit the shrine now because his high voter ratings could withstand the criticism and that it would help shore up support amongst his conservative base. The visit marks the first time a sitting Japanese prime minister has visited the shrine since 2006.
Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code
Shinzo shrine visit prompts backlash
Thursday, December 26, 2013 - 01:41
Top News »
7:02am BST - (1:56)
Sun, 22 Apr, 2018 - (1:06)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (2:00)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (1:58)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (1:03)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (1:03)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (1:22)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (1:31)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (1:34)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (0:31)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:29)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:12)
Editors' Picks »
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:24)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (2:04)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (0:57)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:45)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (2:44)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (2:15)
Mon, 16 Apr, 2018 - (1:59)
Sat, 14 Apr, 2018 - (1:09)
Sat, 14 Apr, 2018 - (2:15)
Sat, 14 Apr, 2018 - (1:40)
Most Popular »
Thu, 05 May, 2011 - (1:35)
Business »
7:02am BST - (2:20)
Sun, 22 Apr, 2018 - (1:59)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:09)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (5:20)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:22)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:37)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:03)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:59)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:48)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (4:56)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:42)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:47)
Featured Videos
Luxury liner Queen Elizabeth II reopens as floating hotel
One of the world's most famous ships is now a floating hotel permanently moored at Dubai's Mina Rashid port
World Toad in the Hole Championships
The aim of the traditional pub game originating from France is to land as many large brass coins or 'toads' in a table's small hole
Tarantula burgers on the menu
For adventurous diners, tarantula topped burgers are available at a Durham, North Carolina restaurant as part of its ‘exotic meat’ month
Runners brave the cold for North Pole Marathon
Runners brave freezing conditions at top of the world in North Pole Marathon
UK firm turns discarded gum into shoes, coffee cups and combs
Chewing gum is a blight on city streets and takes a heavy toll on the environment, say its critics. But one woman in Britain is performing modern-day alchemy on it
Technology »
Sun, 22 Apr, 2018 - (1:30)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:50)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:54)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (0:46)
Wed, 18 Apr, 2018 - (1:03)
Wed, 18 Apr, 2018 - (1:01)
Wed, 18 Apr, 2018 - (1:35)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (1:25)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (1:07)
Entertainment »
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (1:24)
Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - (0:59)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (0:46)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:31)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (2:10)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (0:49)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:19)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:27)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:28)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:36)
Sports And Leisure »
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:08)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (2:22)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (0:48)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:19)
Wed, 18 Apr, 2018 - (3:00)
Wed, 18 Apr, 2018 - (1:30)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (1:23)
Mon, 16 Apr, 2018 - (2:02)
Mon, 16 Apr, 2018 - (2:55)
Fri, 13 Apr, 2018 - (0:52)
Oddly Enough »
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:00)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:27)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (0:53)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (0:53)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (1:33)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (1:27)
Thu, 12 Apr, 2018 - (0:49)
Wed, 11 Apr, 2018 - (3:54)
Tue, 10 Apr, 2018 - (0:56)
Dateline Asia »
Tue, 05 Dec, 2017 - (2:06)
Tue, 05 Dec, 2017 - (2:11)
Fri, 01 Dec, 2017 - (2:04)
Thu, 30 Nov, 2017 - (2:10)
Thu, 30 Nov, 2017 - (2:14)
Wed, 29 Nov, 2017 - (2:11)
Tue, 28 Nov, 2017 - (1:55)
Tue, 28 Nov, 2017 - (2:21)
Mon, 27 Nov, 2017 - (2:25)
Fri, 24 Nov, 2017 - (2:16)
Fri, 24 Nov, 2017 - (2:14)
Thu, 23 Nov, 2017 - (2:18)