TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday urged Russia to remove a war monument in the Far East depicting the destruction of Japan’s chrysanthemum crest, calling it “completely unacceptable,” Kyodo News reported.
The bronze statue, unveiled Friday in Khabarovsk, depicts a Soviet soldier destroying a stone marker bearing the chrysanthemum crest, according to Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
The chrysanthemum crest is widely recognized as a national symbol of Japan.
Takaichi condemned the depiction of its destruction as “completely unacceptable.”
Motegi said the monument was “not constructive” for bilateral relations and “unacceptable and extremely regrettable in terms of Japanese national sentiment.”
“Through diplomatic channels, we have strongly requested the Russian side to cease the installation and remove it,” Motegi said.
He said it was “extremely regrettable that the Russian side has not responded to Japan’s request as of the present moment,” adding that Tokyo would continue to press Moscow to remove the monument.
There was no immediate response from Russia to the Japanese government’s remarks.
Japan-Russia relations have faced renewed tensions in recent months after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a disputed island chain off Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido last month, prompting a protest from Tokyo.
Source: Saudi Gazette