Chinese man who petrol-bombed Japan’s South Korean embassy formally charged, AFP says

TOKYO (TR) – A Chinese man who fire-bombed the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea because his grandmother was forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese Imperial Army has been formally charged by prosecutors, Agence France-Presse said.

South Korean prosecutors charged the 38-year-old man, with the surname Liu, for attempted arson in the January 8, attack that damaged the outer wall of the embassy. Liu also claimed responsibility for an attack on Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, including some accused of war crimes, AFP reported. Read more

Yasukuni Shrine on New Year’s Day

(Photo by Tokyo Reporter, January 1, 2012) Read more

Right-wing groups at Yasukuni Shrine on August 15

(Photo by Tokyo Reporter, August 15, 2011) Read more

Right-wing groups protest anti-Yasukuni Shrine march in Tokyo

(Photo by Tokyo Reporter, August 15, 2010) Read more

Right-wing groups at Yasukuni Shrine on August 15

(Photo by The Tokyo Reporter, August 15, 2009)

For a story on right-wing groups at Yasukuni Shrine, go here. For a story on the left-wing protesters, go here.

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Minoru Torihada at Yasukuni Shrine

(Photo by The Tokyo Reporter, August 15, 2009)

For a story on right-wing groups at Yasukuni Shrine go here. For a story on the left-wing protesters, go here.

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Right-wing groups clash with police in Kudanshita

(Photo by The Tokyo Reporter, August 15, 2009)

For a story on right-wing groups at Yasukuni, go here. For a story on the left-wing protesters, go here.

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Right-wingers at Yasukuni

(Photo by The Tokyo Reporter, August 2008)

For the story from 2007 go here.

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‘Anti-Emperor’ group to protest at Yasukuni Shrine

TOKYO – The left-wing group Anti-Emperor Activities Network said this week that it will once again hold a protest march near the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on August 15th, the anniversary of the conclusion of World War II.

The group, which takes a firm anti-war stance, will provide an opposing view to the nationalist celebrations that take place on that day at the central Tokyo shrine, said the group’s representative, Tomoyuki Nomura.

“On this day, many events are held, such as memorial rites for the war dead,” said Nomura in an email dispatch to The Tokyo Reporter. “Most of them glorify the Emperor system and old Japanese military traditions. Yasukuni has become an important symbol for those who support these political points of view.” Read more

Left-wing group announces Yasukuni Shrine demonstration

TOKYO – The Anti-War Joint Action Committee will lead a one-hour protest near the grounds of the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on the morning of Friday, August 15th, the anniversary of the conclusion of World War II.

Organizers of the leftist group feel that they must counteract the activities of the uyoku dantai (right-wing groups) that are so prevalent in the shrine’s vicinity on that day.

“On the anniversary, the uyoku begin working from early in the morning,” said the committee’s representative, Misumi Tadashi in an exclusive interview with The Tokyo Reporter. “Not only around Yasukuni, but all throughout Tokyo, they blast their messages from speakers mounted atop their trucks. This is the most appropriate day of the year for them to appeal their existence to the public. The police cannot control them, and we cannot let them continue with these harsh activities. We have to do something.” Read more

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