As a World War II navy officer, Yasuhiro Nakasone witnessed the depths of his country’s utter defeat and devastation. ADThe son of a lumber merchant, Nakasone was born May 27, 1918, the last year of World War I. Nakasone’s nationalist legacy includes the first official visit in 1985 by a postwar prime minister to Yasukuni Shrine, which honors the war dead, including Japan’s convicted war criminals. AD“Japanese cowered under the (postwar U.S.) occupation and occupation policies,” Nakasone said just before stepping down as prime minister in 1987. We have caused tremendous trouble to our neighboring countries in the past war,” Nakasone said in a 2011 interview with public broadcaster NHK.

Source: Washington Post November 29, 2019 04:22 UTC