Japan Defence Minister Visits Yasukuni on WWII Anniversary
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- Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, Aug 15, wearing a dark suit and tie, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's WWII surrender, per local media images
- Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the shrine but did not visit in person, per Kyodo news — though she had visited multiple times before becoming prime minister last October
- Economic security minister Kimi Onoda also visited the shrine, according to public broadcaster NHK
- China's foreign ministry said it 'strongly condemns the negative moves' and has 'already lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with Japan,' according to state broadcaster CCTV
- South Korea's Foreign Ministry expressed 'deep regret,' called the actions 'anachronistic,' and urged Japan to demonstrate 'humble reflection and sincere remorse' as a basis for future-oriented relations
- Among the 2.5 million war dead commemorated at Yasukuni are 14 wartime leaders convicted of the most serious war crimes and over 1,000 others found guilty by Allied tribunals after Japan's 1945 defeat
- The last sitting Japanese prime minister to visit was Shinzo Abe in December 2013, which drew an expression of disappointment from the Obama administration
Why it matters: China lodged a formal protest and South Korea expressed 'deep regret,' with both countries saying senior officials' visits to Yasukuni damage bilateral ties. Takaichi, who visited the shrine multiple times before becoming leader, opted this year to send only a ritual offering — but the defense minister's appearance still triggered the expected backlash from Beijing and Seoul.
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