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Japan names day after Hirohito
EFL: Japan's parliament has approved a law to rename a public holiday in honour of World War II Emperor Hirohito. The Showa Day holiday, named after Hirohito's posthumous title, is intended to mark Japan's post-war rebirth as well as look to the future. But critics say the move will upset other nations, especially China and the two Koreas, who will say it glorifies Japan's often brutal militaristic past.
Seething in 4..3..2..
A similar bill was abandoned in the past, due to political pressure. But this time the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan backed the bill, which was proposed by the ruling coalition. The opposition said it now accepted the idea that the holiday would encourage public reflection of the turbulent 63 years of Hirohito's reign, rather than glorify the emperor himself.
The bill enacting the new name was promoted by members of Prime Minister Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party, which argues that Japan has already apologised enough for its past. But correspondents say the move will upset other Asian nations because it refers to the period when Japanese troops brutally occupied neighbouring states.
Posted by: Steve 2005-05-13
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=119058