Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to the Yasukuni shrine

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Yasukuni shrine at the end of 2013, triggering anger in China and Korea and "disappointment" from the US government. Yasukuni has been a hot topic in Japanese domestic politics for many years. It is a place where soldiers that had served for the Japanese Emperor and died during service are enshrined. Therefore, Takamori Saigo, one of the most prominent heroes in the Meiji Restoration is not enshrined here, because he later died during a rebellion against the Meiji government.
Until 1978, the A-class war criminals which were sentenced to death in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East were not enshrined here. Therefore, visiting this shrine could be regarded as an act to express remorse for the past war and condolence for those who sacrified there lives during the war. Emperor Hirohito visited there several times until 1975 perhaps to express his apology for the soldiers who sacrified their lives for the Emperor.
But since the A-class war criminals are included in the "gods" that are enshrined here, the nature of this place has changed. Emperor Hirohito ceased to go there, because he was angry at the Yasukuni for enshrining the people who were responsible for leading Japan to a disaster. Since then, it has become a place where right-wing activists, who believe in Japan's justice in the past wars, gather and cry for revenge on the past enemies (US, China, Russia, and Britain) that have beaten Japan up during WWII. Although Abe explained after his visit that he intended to show his resolution for not engaging Japan in war again, the museum inside Yasukuni relates a story completely different from his pacifist interpretation; a story of heroic fights of Japanese military and justifications of Japan's intentions in past wars.
A sad fact is that this time even more Japanese people than in the past have applauded Abe's visit, perhaps out of their hatred towards the Chinese and Koreans who have recently intensified their accusations toward Japan's past invasions and abuse of civilians during colonial rule. A dangerous heating-up of nationalism and antagonism is now taking place between Japan and China, and Japan and Korea. So it will not be very wise for the Chinese and Koreans to strongly react to this visit by Abe. I hope that they take Abe's interpretation at face value.
An encouraging news is that China's reaction is relatively calm compared to the fierce anti-Japanese demonstrations in September 2012. An editorial by the 21st Century Economic Herald, a Chinese economic newspaper, says that "China must mobilize the power of non-governmental diplomacy, send out more peaceful and reconciliatory signs, make good relationship with the peaceful forces in Japan, and contain the right wing's intension to change the Japanese Constitution." I am completely in line with this proposal, though I am on the Japanese side. The Japanese can correct this mistake by Abe by not letting our prime ministers go to Yasukuni again. We need to strengthen our ties with our neighbors and let them believe in our pacifist intentions.

How to bribe a Japanese ambassador

Twenty or so years ago, reading a magazine at a bookstore, I came accross an article describing how Japanese trading houses bribed Japanese diplomats posted at Japanese embassies in developing countries. At that time, Japan's official development assistance (ODA) towards developing countries was still increasing, and bribery from Japanese companies which sought the chances of earning contracts of ODA projects to the politicians and government officials were occasionally exposed in the media. The article cited an anonymous person working at a Japanese trading house who said that a convenient way to bribe Japanese officials was to play golf with them. People who play golf sometimes bet something, such as a small amount of money or a meal, on their golf match. By using this custom as a disguise, Japanese private companies could tacitly and safely offer some money to government officials, who would reject receiving outright offering of money or gifts.
This article reminded me of my former boss at the Institute of Developing Economies. I was still in the 20s, and my boss then was a scholar specialized in Myanmar. Besides doing research he was active in the Japanese ODA scene in South and South East Asia. Although I couldn't really understand why a scholar cound be so influential in governmental projects, I could feel that he was welcomed by Japanese contruction companies and trading houses which were building roads and bridges in South and South East Asia funded by Japan's ODA. Once, when I was travelling with my boss in South East Asia, he told me that he was going to play golf with a Japanese ambassador to a certain Asian country. At that time I only thought that my boss must be a great person, being golf mates with a famous ambassador. This diplomat wrote many books regarding Japanese diplomacy and famous for his hawkish views.
After reading the article, however, I understood why my boss had the glory of playing golf with an influential ambassador. For a governmental official, it might be risky to play golf with people working for private companies, because it would induce suspicions. But playing golf with a scholar working for a government-related institute would be no problem at all. At the golf club, there of course will be some other "friends", who will join together to play golf with the two, and tactically lose the match, offering some gifts to the ambassdor with a smile. Well, that part of course is my guess with no evidence. All I know is that the ambassador and my boss were no longer golf mates after the ambassador had returned to Japan.