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

Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi refrained from visiting Tokyo's contentious Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, presumably aiming to prevent heightened tensions with China and South Korea as Japan commemorated the 81st anniversary of its World War II surrender. Instead, the defense minister, along with other political representatives, paid their respects at the shrine.

Yasukuni Shrine, which honors over 2.4 million individuals who perished during various conflicts, garnered controversy after enshrining 14 convicted World War II Japanese war criminals. China and South Korea have expressed concerns, alleging that visits by Japanese officials to the shrine demonstrate a lack of remorse for Japan's wartime atrocities.

Japan's history of colonization and wartime atrocities, including mass killings, forced labor, and sexual enslavement, resulted in millions of deaths during the country's wars and colonial rule.

Despite Japan's embrace of a pacifist ethos in the years following its defeat, memories of Japan's colonial rule and atrocities persist, and leaders and the public in China and South Korea remain vigilant about how Japanese leaders address the country's past. Takaichi acknowledged the sacrifices of those who perished in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Okinawa, and overseas battlefronts, crediting their contribution to Japan's peace and prosperity. She vowed that Japan would never allow a repetition of the war's devastation.

Defense Minister Koizumi, along with three other Cabinet ministers and three executives from Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party, visited the shrine on Saturday. A nonpartisan group of numerous lawmakers also prayed there. Koizumi, who has frequently visited the shrine, stated afterward that he reaffirmed his commitment to Japan's postwar responsibility as a peace-loving nation. He is the son of a former prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, whose visit to Yasukuni in 2006 angered China.

China's Foreign Ministry expressed disapproval, claiming that the Japanese politicians' intentions were to "change the verdict on the war criminals, cover up Japan's war crimes, distort historical facts, and pave the way for accelerating militarization." They urged Japan to "seriously examine its history" and forge a clean break with militarism.

South Korea's foreign ministry also criticized the actions of Japanese politicians and their offerings, deeming them "anachronistic acts that disregard history" and called for Japan to confront its history and display remorse.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in his speech marking Korea's 81st anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule, advocated for pragmatic diplomacy. He emphasized the importance of Japan-Korea cooperation while encouraging reflection on Japan's past, acknowledging the need for deep remorse. Emperor Naruhito echoed these sentiments, expressing hope that the suffering during and after the war would be remembered by younger generations.

Tensions between Japan and China escalated in November when Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, potentially warranting the use of force.