Japan defence minister visits contentious Yasukuni Shrine to war dead
Koizumi’s visit and Takaichi’s offering revived criticism from China and South Korea, while 3 LDP executives also paid respects.
- On Saturday, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender at a site viewed by Asian neighbors as a symbol of past militarism.
- The shrine honors 2.5 million war dead, including 14 convicted Class-A war criminals like General Hideki Tojo, a wartime prime minister executed for crimes against peace, commemorating those responsible for imperial Japan's occupation of parts of Asia.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stayed away from the shrine Saturday to prioritize diplomatic ties with Beijing and Seoul, despite her previous pledges to pray at the site on this anniversary.
- Visits by Japanese politicians to the shrine have drawn sharp rebukes from China and South Korea, which suffered under Japan's wartime aggression, even as the government strengthens defense capabilities amid a severe security environment.
- Since the 2010s, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed to correct a "self-deprecating view" of Japan's wartime history, yet critics argue shrine visits demonstrate a lack of remorse over wartime atrocities.
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80 Articles
On the day Japan commemorates the end of World War II, Prime Minister Takaichi's cabinet has chosen to commemorate its own victims above all else. There is no mention today of the war violence Japan itself perpetrated in Asia, and there is no sign of an apology. At the same time, Defense Minister Koizumi visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine today, where fourteen major war criminals are also honored. By doing so, the Japanese government is …
LancasterOnline
Japanese leader skips controversial shrine visit, avoids mention of remorse on surrender anniversary
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has stayed away from Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine as the country marks the 81st anniversary of its World War II surrender. Takaichi, however, did not mention her country’s wartime past in Asia or remorse over…
Japan defence minister visits contentious Yasukuni Shrine to war dead
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited a shrine to the nation's war dead on Saturday, prompting rebukes from China and South Korea, which consider it a symbol of Tokyo's wartime aggression.
At the national memorial service for war dead held on the 15th, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not include expressions of remorse or a pledge of non-aggression in her memorial address. Emperor Naruhito mentioned remorse and prayed for peace, while about 80 Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, including Defense Minister Koizumi, visited Yasukuni Shrine in person. The Prime Minister chose to offer a monetary tribute instead of visiting the shrin…
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