Pro-China, Pro-Yasukuni, Half Japanese.

In this month’s issue of Voice, a public poll was conducted looking at, among other things, Japan’s China policy. Polling on three questions in particular are quite interesting for what they say about the Japanese ability to both desire a friendly relationship with China and a prominent place for Yasukuni in the national psyche without seeing a contradiction in these goals.

Firstly, the numbers. In response to the question, “do you agree with the new Administration’s China policy; East Asian community, and East Sea Joint Development etc.”, half of respondents agreed and 35% disagreed. This shows again that after a few scary years under Koizumi, most Japanese still want a closer, “warmer” political relationship with their largest neighbor.

In response to the question “should the PM visit the Yasukuni shrine on August 15 [Remembrance Day]”, again half of respondents agreed. Despite the fact that China has made it very clear that improvement in the political are dependent on the PM not setting foot in the Shrine, still half of Japanese prioritize the PM’s ceremonial role as mourner in chief.

More intriguing, in response to the question “Should a seperate facility be created to allow for formal mourning of the war dead?” I.e. should the Yasukuni Shrine lose its monopoly on war bereavement and division of state and religion be restored? Answer, 58% opposed. Most Japan view the Yasukuni Shrine itself, in and of itself, as special – thereby preventing the promising work around that Koizumi had aired before being boxed into a corner.

Hatoyama clearly is trying to take the Japan-China to the next level. This can be seen in his symbolic displays in various international fora, the recent 600 man delegation to China and more recently rumors of Hatoyama to Nanjing – which if it occurred to involve a formal apology and the possible beginnings of real reconciliation between Japan and China. While all and sundry must be aware that Hatoyama will not be visiting Yasukuni in any formal capacity (he has promised this much) – underlying Japanese sentiments about the Shrine will complicate any reconciliation effort with China that Hatoyama’s administration might attempt.