China’s cadre-training Central Party School’s Study Times has warned that Japanese far-right forces are using cultural and sporting activities to influence public perception and beautify the history of aggression. The article highlights incidents such as footballer Kaoru Mitoma posing with cards related to a Japanese World War II soldier accused of war crimes, and visits to Tokyo’s Togo Shrine by Tomokazu Harimoto and others.
The Study Times, published by the Central Party School which trains Communist Party cadres, carried an article on Friday warning that Japanese far-right forces are using cultural and sporting activities to “influence public perception and beautify the history of aggression”.
The commentary cited examples such as Japanese footballer Kaoru Mitoma being photographed with cards relating to a Japanese World War II soldier accused of war crimes. It also noted visits by table tennis player Tomokazu Harimoto and others to Tokyo’s Togo Shrine. The shrine is dedicated to Admiral Togo Heihachiro, who fought against China in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). Japan celebrates him as a “god of victory”, but China views him as a pioneer of Japanese militarist expansion.
The article underscores China’s concerns over historical narratives in Japan, amid ongoing tensions in bilateral relations. Keywords from the piece include the First Sino-Japanese War, Chinese social media, Sanae Takaichi, Snow Man, National Defence University, Japanese militarism, South Korea, Tomokazu Harimoto, China, Beijing, Japan, Paris, Kaoru Mitoma, Togo Heihachiro, and Taiwan.
This development highlights potential geopolitical undertones in cultural and sports exchanges, though the article does not detail any specific responses.
