Japan's Defense Minister Koizumi prays at shrine seen by neighbors as symbol of Japanese militarism
TOKYO — 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. Koizumi has often been at the controversial shrine. Visits by Japanese politicians to the shrine, which also commemorates World War II criminals, have been criticized by China and Korea. They see it as a move that shows…
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi abstained from visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine to prioritize diplomatic relations with China and South Korea. However, she did not mention Japan's wartime past in Asia or express remorse during her address marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. The Japanese government's Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, did visit the shrine, leading to criticism from China and South Korea.
Koizumi regularly visits the shrine to commemorate the end of the war and other occasions, but his visit this year is seen as more contentious as a Defense Minister pushing for increased military capabilities. The previous Defense Minister to visit the shrine was Minoru Kihara in 2024. The Japanese government prohibits group visits by Self-Defense Forces personnel, and Koizumi has defended his visit, stating that paying respect to the war dead is natural for any country.
Takaichi has faced challenges maintaining support, particularly after the escalation of tensions with China in November over comments suggesting Japan could use force against Taiwan. She has resisted acknowledging Japan's wartime aggression and atrocities, maintaining that she has no responsibility for past actions and no intention to apologize.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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