Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Attends Beijing WWII Anniversary, Greeted by President Xi Jinping
On September 3, 2025, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attended the '80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War' ceremony held in Beijing, China, where he was personally greeted by President Xi Jinping. On this day, large-scale ceremonies, including a military parade, were held in and around Tiananmen Square. It was reported that Hatoyama received an unusually direct welcome from President Xi. Former Prime Minister Hatoyama's attendance caused significant ripples within Japan, with 'Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama' becoming a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter). Users expressed a flood of both supportive and critical opinions. Critical comments included harsh remarks such as 'He should just stop being Japanese,' 'What a traitor,' 'Beyond redemption if he won't even listen to his family's pleas,' 'Why doesn't he just live i...