Japan's Abe, Poised to Lead, Offers Nation Vision of Pride

[Ignacio Upton]

Japan's Abe, Poised to Lead, Offers Nation Vision of Pride
By Anthony Faiola
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, September 19, 2006; Page A01

TOKYO -- To glimpse the brave new Japan of Shinzo Abe -- the hawkish 51-year-old poised to replace Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister next week -- take a peek inside the eighth-grade history classes at this city's prestigious Tamagawa Academy.

Using new textbooks with lessons hailed by Abe as the foundation of a more confident nation, junior high students at the elite private school are this year being taught something that has been largely taboo in post-World War II Japan -- to take pride in their country. The texts omit or soften references to atrocities committed by Japanese troops during the war, assure students that the war was waged primarily in self-defense and promote the ideal of a proud and independent Japan.

The controversial books, thus far adopted by only a handful of schools, have the support of the government and are set for wider distribution. But they are only part of Abe's vision for the future. He has vowed to push through a sweeping education bill, strengthening the notion of patriotism in public classrooms in a way not seen since the fall of Imperial Japan, and to rewrite Japan's pacifist constitution to allow the country to again have an official and flexible military

Japan's foreign minister, Taro Aso, and its finance minister, Sadakazu Tanigaki, are also competing for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP. But neither is as pedigreed as Abe to deliver on promises. His father, Shintaro Abe, served as foreign minister; his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, was initially arrested as a World War II criminal but escaped the gallows to become prime minister in 1957.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091801312.html

...This is only going to further fuck things up in the region. Between the emerging Chinese hegemon, Taiwan, and Kim Jong Il, east Asia (and the world) is going to see some scary years.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Yeah, this can't be good.

It disappoints me to see the myth that WWII was defensive in nature being perpetuated.

[geomon666]

2. Yay.

Another psuedo dictator brought to power under a Bush presidency.

WWII was self defense? Fucking asshole.

[Ignacio Upton]

3. He will also be the first PM born after WWII

We should start worrying about today's kids, because once they become politically aware (in about 5-10 years from now) Bush will be a distant memory...which is a perfect time to "reintroduce" him for the right-wingers.