Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine Draws Crowds on 81st Anniversary of WWII Surrender

Hundreds of people gathered at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. The crowd began forming before dawn, with more than 100 people queuing by 6 a.m. local time to offer prayers at the main hall.

Among the visitors was Mariko Shinoda, 56, whose grandfather died as a kamikaze pilot near the end of the war. She recalled that her mother brought her to the shrine every summer, making the visit a family tradition. Shinoda noted that her grandfather's remains were never recovered, with only a stone found in his urn.

Masashi Ichimura, 48, also attended to honor his grandfather, who fought in the war. Ichimura said he grew up hearing stories of the hardships his family endured, including severe food shortages during and after the conflict. While he stressed that "war is not a good thing" and that preventing another war is paramount, he expressed gratitude to those who fought to protect their country.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, another Cabinet minister, and three executives from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's governing party visited the shrine earlier in the day. The shrine also commemorates convicted WWII war criminals, and such visits have drawn criticism from Japan's Asian neighbors who view them as a lack of remorse for wartime atrocities.

Prime Minister Takaichi did not visit the shrine, apparently to prioritize diplomatic relations with China and South Korea. However, in her address on Saturday, she did not mention Japan's wartime actions in Asia or express remorse.