Japan's Takaichi sends offering to Yasukuni Shrine on WWII anniversary

PoliticsPrime minister avoids visit while cabinet members pay tribute to war criminal-linked shrineDoves are released as a symbol of peace at Yasukuni Shrine for the war dead in Tokyo on Aug. 15, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. © ReutersAugust 15, 2026 11:22 JSTTOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, while the country's defense chief Shinjiro Koizumi visited the site as Japan marks the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II.