Comment on “’The LDP Should Explain to Citizens’ Constitutional Democratic Party Hold Emergency Meeting over Himeyuri Remarks” [in Japanese]
On May 8, 2025, a comment on the Asahi Shimbun article titled “‘The LDP Should Explain to Citizens’ Constitutional Democratic Party Hold Emergency Meeting over Himeyuri Remarks,” by Professor Maiko Ichihara（Graduate school of law）was published. The article reports on a controversy surrounding remarks made by LDP Upper House member Shoji Nishida, who referred to the exhibits at the “Himeyuri no Tō” memorial—dedicated to students who perished in the Battle of Okinawa—as “a rewriting of history.” The article highlights calls for Nishida to retract his statement and issue an apology. Professor Ichihara pointed out that Nishida’s remarks constitute misinformation that fosters division between Okinawa and the rest of Japan, and warned that such comments could be exploited by actors seeking to undermine democratic society. She urged Nishida to revisit the Himeyuri memorial and museum to correct his misunderstanding, and called on the LDP to encourage him to do so.
