Traditionally, new Japanese prime ministers will make their first foreign visit to Washington, and say hello to the President of United States. Last Sunday, however, Shinzo Abe, the first Japanese prime minister born after World War II, changed this rule and made his first foreign visit to China and South Korea -Japan’s closest neighbors.
Because of the former Prime Minister Mr. Koizumi’s visits to the Yasukuni Shrine that memorializes 14 Class A war criminals among Japan's war dead, Japan has experienced a terrible relationship for the past five years with China and South Korea, who have strongly opposed the visits.
Mr. Abe is also known as a tough nationalist in Japan. Some Chinese have expressed their concerns that he may be determined to continue Mr. Koizumi’s visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. However, Mr. Abe has declined to say whether or not he will visit the shrine. He told reporters on Sunday that he would properly handle this issue.
It is good to see that Mr. Abe is trying to distance himself a bit from this controversial issue.
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