Japanese PM and ministers honour war-criminals at imperialist Yasukuni shrine

Commemorating the 81st anniversary of Japan’s unconditional WWII surrender in August 1946, Japan’s political leaders honoured a monument to known war-criminals. The infamous Yasukuni shrine commemorates thousands of war-criminals who served in the brutal Imperial Japanese Army. Leaders included the Prime Minister, defe

Defence Minister Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine comes on the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in WWII.

South Korea denounced visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials and politicians Saturday, urging Japan's leaders to squarely face history and show remorse in order to develop bilateral relations based on mutual trust. The foreign ministry issued a statement after Japanese ministers and lawmakers visited or se

China has “strongly condemned” Japanese leaders for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and making an offering on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s announcement of surrender in World War II. Beijing lodged a formal protest after Japanese defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi visited the shrine on Saturday. China and many

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, while the co

Japan defence minister visits contentious Yasukuni Shrine to war dead  Reuters

There had been speculation that Sanae Takaichi, a regular visitor before becoming Japan's prime minister in October 2025, might visit the shrine like then-premier Shinzo Abe had done in 2013.

Those paying respects included Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi — a regular visitor — and senior members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan’s defense minister visited a shrine seen by Japan’s neighbors as a symbol of its wartime militarism, a move that could inflame tensions with China and South Korea.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has prayed at Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine, seen by Japan’s Asian neighbors as a symbol of the country’s past militarism

Japan's Defense Minister Koizumi prays at shrine seen by neighbors as symbol of Japanese militarism  AP News

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Saturday prayed at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, seen by Japan’s Asian neighbors as a symbol of the country’s past militarism

Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi prays at shrine seen by neighbors as symbol of Japanese militarism  Toronto Star