September 6, 2026

On Saturday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted a message in both Japanese and Russian on social media claiming that a memorial monument in Khabarovsk, Russia, themed around "victory over militaristic Japan," was "completely unacceptable" and "affected the feelings of the Japanese people," and demanded that the Russian side dismantle it. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement declaring that the monument was "unacceptable and extremely regrettable in terms of Japanese national sentiment."

How exactly did this monument "hurt" Takaichi's "feelings"? Presumably because the boundary stone being smashed by a Soviet Red Army soldier in the sculpture is a replica of the one erected by Japanese troops on Sakhalin Island. The chrysanthemum crest carved into the stone is not only a symbol of the Japanese imperial family, but also a hallmark of the Japanese militarism that committed monstrous crimes back then. The fact that Tokyo views militarist Japan as a "sentimental attachment" worthy of cherishing vividly demonstrates just how pressing a real-world threat neo-militarism has become.

Beneath Takaichi's social media post, a netizen posted a photo of Japan's "Hakko Ichiu Tower," questioning why the Japanese government still preserves this evil monument stained with the blood and tears of invaded nations. Indeed, before pointing fingers at Russia, Japan should tear down its own crime-laden "Hakko Ichiu Tower" first. The phrase "hakko ichiu," literally meaning "the whole world under one roof," was in reality a delirious, malevolent doctrine used by Japanese militarism to fuel its ambition of "conquering the world." Built in 1940 during Japan's frenzied external expansion and aggression, the tower was constructed from 1,789 stones, hundreds of which were plundered from sites such as the Ming Palace in Nanjing and the Great Wall, China, as well as the Korean Peninsula. Trampling the dignity of victimized nations underfoot while building a tower out of looted spoils - this sinful structure should have been demolished long ago.

Read more:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202609/1369952.shtml