On September 5th, Japanese Prime Minister Koike Yukie posted a message on social media, expressing her views on a new monument unveiled by Russia to commemorate the end of World War II. Writing in both Japanese and Russian, she said that this was "completely unacceptable," and she has strongly requested that the monument be removed.
In the city of Habarovsk, Russia, a ceremony was held to unveil a monument depicting Soviet soldiers destroying a commemorative plaque bearing the chrysanthemum insignia. According to Gao Shi, "the chrysanthemum emblem, widely recognized as a symbol of Japan," this kind of practice "is completely unacceptable."
Oishi said: "This is a matter involving Japanese national feelings. We have strongly requested Russia to stop installing and removing the monument."
We will continue to strongly urge Russia to dismantle it. She said this for last time.
Screenshot of Gao Shi's post
According to Russian media reports, on the 4th, a monument commemorating 'the Victory Day against Japanese militarism and the end of World War II' was unveiled in Khabarovsk, Russia. The day before the unveiling ceremony, Japan requested Russia to modify the monument, but this request was rejected by Russia.
The main part of this monument is a 15-meter-high statue of a Soviet Red Army soldier named “Ivan”. This soldier used his rifle butt to destroy a border marker from the Japanese militarist era. The border marker bore the words “Great Japan Empire” and featured a rose emblem. Reports say this is Russia’s first monument commemorating the defeat of Japanese militarism.
Russian media
Russian Military History Society Vice Chairman Nikolai Ovsiyenko revealed that just one day before the unveiling ceremony, the Consulate of Japan in Bakharov requested Russia remove the commemorative monument's border marker section, citing the Japanese imperial coat of arms as a symbol of the Japanese royal family.
The Russian side rejected this request. Ovsijenko stated that Japan's request was "extremely inappropriate," and the Chrysanthemum Shield will remain on the monument as a "symbol of Japanese militarism that committed heinous crimes."
