Japan defence minister visits war shrine, PM stays away

Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi paid respects on Saturday at Yasukuni Shrine, a site that has long been controversial in the nation's relations with its neighbours due to its dedication to war dead, including convicted war criminals. The visit, which took place 81 years after Japan's surrender in World War II, could further strain relations with China and South Korea.

Koizumi's Saturday visit, as defence chief, marks a departure from the Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's decision to stay away. Takaichi, who had previously visited the shrine as a regular before becoming prime minister in October, had previously sent an offering to the shrine and for a spring festival. However, the timing of her absence from the shrine visit has raised speculation and concern.

Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to 2.5 million war dead, primarily Japanese, encompassing those linked to Imperial Japan's expansionist policies during the 1930s and 1940s. Neighbouring countries have consistently viewed the shrine and the regular visits by senior politicians as a symbol of Japan's inability to acknowledge the atrocities committed by its forces before and during the war.

Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, is no stranger to Yasukuni, having visited the site during his tenure as a government minister. The last Defence Minister to visit was Minoru Kihara in 2024. Junichiro Koizumi was the last sitting Prime Minister to pay respects at Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversary in 2006. Abe had done so in December 2013, on the first anniversary of his premiership.

Earlier this year, Takaichi had already infuriated China by suggesting that Japan could intervene militarily in any conflict over Taiwan. China views Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory and threatens to employ force to annex the island, which is home to over 23 million people.