首相・閣僚などによる靖国神社公式参拝中止要請のこと（日本語／英語）

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

STATEMENT CALLING FOR
SUSPENSION OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT TO YASUKUNI SHRINE
BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET MEMBERS

Since its founding in 1969, the Federation of Shinshu Buddhism has unwaveringly protested against the Prime Ministers' and cabinet members' official visit to Yasukuni Shrine.

Yasukuni Shrine has been playing a central role of the State Shinto, which justifies the wars embarked by the then military government in the name of 'holy war' and evades its responsibility by commemorating those who lost their lives in these battles as 'war heroes.'

In the Constitution of Japan, it states clearly that "we shall never be visited with the horrors of war through the action of government" (preamble) and "an international peace is sincerely aspired" (Article 9), the provisions on 'freedom of religion' and 'separation of church and state' should be particularly valued. In this sense, Prime Ministers' and cabinet members' official visit to Yasukuni Shrine highly offends the spirit of the Constitution.

Sakyamuni Buddha once said, "Everyone fears violence as well as death. In consideration of all life, do not kill and do not make others kill." The following is also recorded as his words in a sutra, "When the Buddha Dharma prevails, the land is prosperous and the people live in peace, so there is no need to use soldiers and weapons." Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, also expressed his aspiration for peace in a letter as follows, "May there be peace in the world, and may the Buddha's teaching spread!"

However, against these venerable teachers' noble aspirations, we, the community of Shinshu Buddhist organizations, committed a grave mistake by taking part in the then Japanese government implemented war-promoting movement during the late 19th century, and as a result, we have brought tremendous suffering to both the Japanese as well as other nationals. With deep reflection on this past mistake, as Buddhists, we have seriously listened to the voice of all victims without regard to friend or foe, and have come to realize that their aspiration for peace is identified as that of the Buddha. In accordance with this understanding, we have been and will be engaging in a variety of activities, such as memorial services for war victims in the name of peace and renunciation of war.

Thus through careful reading of the present Constitution, it is clearly evident that the Prime Minister and his cabinet members' official visit to Yasukuni Shrine is a problem. Therefore, we sincerely request you to discontinue this custom. Furthermore, on this occasion, we would like to clarify our advocacy of your other peace promoting activities.

August 7, 2023