Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Dec. 26 was not a one-off example of his right-wing nationalism. It was preceded by the secrecy law, which is a potential threat to freedom of expression in Japan. He has also made appointments to NHK (Japan's national broadcaster) of people whose views of democracy differ significantly from norms in the West.
Abe has made it clear that he would like to see changes in Japan's Constitution that could undermine aspects of Japanese democracy. He has also endorsed comments that seem aimed at undermining both the 1995 Murayama apology for acts committed during the last war by Japanese forces and the 1993 Kono apology over the use of so-called "comfort women."
These steps have caused widespread disquiet among friends of Japan in Britain at a time when tension in East Asia has risen sharply.