On the 79th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and two other Cabinet ministers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Kihara made history as the first sitting defense minister to visit the war-related Shinto shrine since Nobuo Kishi in 2021.
Despite controversy from neighboring countries, such as China and South Korea, who view the shrine as a symbol of Japan’s wartime militarism due to its honoring of Class-A World War II criminals, Kihara defended his visit. He privately paid his respects with a ritual offering, expressing condolences to those who sacrificed their lives.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also made a tamagushi offering at his own expense, but is expected to refrain from personally visiting the shrine. The economic revitalization minister Yoshitaka Shindo and economic security minister Sanae Takaichi also paid their respects at the shrine.
Despite the controversy, a group of about 80 lawmakers, including Ichiro Aisawa from the LDP, visited the shrine to honor the war dead and promote peace and prosperity in Japan.
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