O-Controversial

Quick cultural lesson:

O-Bon is a Japanese Buddhist festival to honour the recently departed spirits of ancestors; although it is now more popular as an excuse for a family reunion and is also famous for its 'circle-style' group dance. Although not an official holiday, most companies close for the festival, which is held from August 13th -15th, and people travel to their hometowns. Travel is expensive and roads are jammed. Fantastically for me, NOVA is very quiet during this time, because it is believed that ancestors return to their families house for those three days and the families must stay in and pray.

Quick poilitical lesson:

So Yasukuni Shrine (where that HUGE gate is) isn't as dull as it appeared. In fact, it causes one of Japan's biggest international controversies.

Although originally constructed in 1869 to commemorate and mourn the victims of wars - the place name literally meaning 'peaceful nation shrine' - it also houses 1,068 foreigners convicted of war crimes after WWII; 14 of which were convicted of Class A war crimes. Every year, Prime Minister Koizumi visits the shrine around this time of year and, each time, it sparks protests from China and South Korea who want the war criminals separated and moved to another location.

Some of my students believe it is the PM's honour and duty to respect the Japanese buried there, but others believe it is foolish to spark problems with their Asian neighbours. An excellent and detailed explanation of the above is easily reached by clicking this blog's title.

This year, on 15th August, the PM visited Yasukuni Shrine - the first time he's done so on O-Bon and the anniversary of Japan's official surrender in WWII.

I hear it made the news overseas. What does the media back home make of it?