LONDON -- When I read the brief report in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun about Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's remarks at the meeting of the Shinto Association of Diet Members, I was surprised not to see any reports of reactions to his reported statement. I wondered whether he had been correctly quoted and whether I should ask the Japanese Embassy in London to confirm that the report was accurate. If it was, there should surely be a furor in Japan.
As Japan Times readers know, the prime minister's comments were widely criticized by other Japanese politicians and in the press. The Chinese reacted with predictable sharpness. Other governments were more circumspect. The governments of the Group of Eight countries no doubt recognize that they may have to deal with Mori if he survives the forthcoming election and do not wish to be seen as taking sides in an internal controversy.
The general reaction in the foreign press was inevitably critical. Many who have not followed closely developments in modern Japan concluded that the remarks confirmed their prejudice that Japan had not changed and that the old myths were being revived in support of Japanese nationalism. While understandable, such a response is not in my view justified, even if there were valid reasons for condemning Mori's comments as ill-advised and inept.