Japan's PM starts year in song
2013-01-07 17:50
Tokoyo - Japan's nationalist new Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe began his first working day of 2013 on Monday by singing the national
anthem, seen by some as a symbol of past imperialism.
The hawkish premier's conservative Liberal Democratic
Party, which returned to power in a general election landslide victory last
month, opened a party meeting by singing "Kimigayo".
The solemn song, based on an ancient poem with obscure
lyrics whose title is widely translated as "His Majesty's Reign", has
served as the national anthem since the late 19th century - even after Japan's
defeat in World War II.
"As control of government shifted to a political
party that could firmly sing Kimigayo on the first working day of the year, we
were truly able to take a first step toward taking back Japan," Abe told
the LDP meeting, according to the Sankei daily online edition and the Nippon TV
network.
Abe, a third-generation politician whose grandfather was
a World War II cabinet member and became a post-war prime minister, has
advocated the revision of the pacifist constitution imposed by the US in 1947.
Kimigayo has been sung at domestic and international
sporting events, despite persistent criticism from leftists and liberals that
it was the anthem of militarist Japan.
Efforts by local authorities to have the song sung at
official functions in school have been met with strong resistance from
teachers.
Teachers also have little respect for the red-sun national
flag that has also survived the war.
