Japan Ruling Party Officials Visit Yasukuni Shrine on WWII Surrender Anniversary
Japanese ruling party officials visited Yasukuni Shrine on the war surrender anniversary, a site seen by neighbours as a symbol of past militarism.
Senior members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) visited Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. The shrine is regarded by several Asian nations as a symbol of Japan's historical militarism.
Among those who made the visit was Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, making him the first sitting defence minister to do so on the date since Minoru Kihara in 2024. Kihara currently serves as chief Cabinet secretary in the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki, along with party chairpersons Haruko Arimura and Yasutoshi Nishimura, were also present at the shrine. Sohei Kamiya, leader of the right-wing populist party Sanseito, was seen walking behind the LDP members.
Cabinet minister Hitoshi Kikawada, who oversees Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, also visited. Speaking to reporters, Kikawada said he came to offer his deepest condolences to the soldiers who died fighting for the country.
Prime Minister Takaichi, despite having previously pledged to visit the shrine on this date, is expected to stay away this year to avoid diplomatic friction with Japan's neighbours.