Takaichi skips Yasukuni, but minister visits trigger China protest
Sanae Takaichi skipped a Yasukuni Shrine visit on Japan's war anniversary while ministers went. The split response exposed Tokyo's struggle to balance conservative politics with regional diplomacy.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stayed away from Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, apparently to prioritise ties with China and South Korea, as Japan marked the 81st anniversary of its surrender in World War II. In her address at a national memorial ceremony, she mourned those killed in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Okinawa and battlefronts overseas, but did not mention Japan's wartime conduct in Asia or express remorse over it.
Even as Takaichi avoided the shrine, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, three other Cabinet ministers, three executives of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a nonpartisan group of lawmakers visited it. China lodged a protest, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his administration would pursue "pragmatic diplomacy centred on national interests" and added that "Korea-Japan cooperation is now more important than ever."
Yasukuni commemorates more than 2.4 million people who died in wars, but it became controversial after 14 convicted Japanese war criminals from World War II were included there. China and South Korea say visits by Japanese officials show a lack of remorse over Japan's wartime atrocities. Speaking at Budokan Hall, a short walk from the shrine, Takaichi thanked the dead for their sacrifice as the "foundation of Japan's peace and prosperity today." She said, "Japan, since the end of the war, has consistently contributed to global peace and prosperity. We will never let the tragedy of the war be repeated," and added that Japan could play a key role in addressing global challenges as "a dependable nation" in the region.
The focus this week had been on whether Takaichi, who had repeatedly said she would pray at the shrine on August 15 despite the controversy, would keep that pledge. Instead, Koizumi, three other ministers, three ruling party executives and dozens of lawmakers turned up. China said the true intentions of the Japanese politicians were "to change the verdict on the war criminals, cover up Japan's war crimes, distort the historical facts and pave the way for accelerating militarisation," and urged Japan to do "serious soul searching" on history and make a clean break with militarism. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing had already risen in November when Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could amount to "a survival-threatening situation" for Japan requiring the use of force.
Lee said the "new bilateral relationship we are building must warmly illuminate those who are still suffering from pain in the shadows of history". Koizumi has regularly visited Yasukuni on August 15 and on other occasions, but his latest visit drew extra attention as he is defence minister in Takaichi's hawkish government, which is pushing to strengthen Japan's military capability and expand weapons sales. The previous shrine visit by a serving defence minister was made in 2024 by Minoru Kihara, now Takaichi's chief secretary and top government spokesperson. Japan's Defence Ministry bars group visits by members of the Self-Defense Forces because of the constitutional separation of religion and state. Koizumi did not stop to speak to reporters at the shrine, but later wrote on X that he had paid respects to the war dead and said, "I renewed my war-renouncing resolve and will continue to fulfil Japan's postwar responsibility as a peace-loving nation." He is the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose 2006 visit to Yasukuni angered China.
Later, three senior figures from the Liberal Democratic Party prayed together at the shrine and brought offerings on Takaichi's behalf in a rare joint visit, seen as a way to make up for her absence and appeal to right-wing supporters. Party secretary-general Shunichi Suzuki said he prayed while keeping in mind the prime minister's thoughts for "the spirits of the war dead" and had brought Takaichi's cash offerings in her capacity as party leader. Takaichi has not visited the shrine since taking office, though she has sent offerings twice for its biannual festivals. Appealing to right-wing voters is important for her at a time when her support is seen as falling rapidly amid criticism over delayed measures on rising prices and scandals, including alleged negative election-campaign videos and unpopular changes to rules on imperial family succession.
Japanese emperors, by contrast, have not visited Yasukuni since 1978, when the war criminals were enshrined there as "martyrs". They have, in more cautious terms, expressed regret over Japan's wartime past. Emperor Naruhito said at Saturday's ceremony that he hoped the ravages of war would never be repeated while "reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse". He added, "It is my sincere hope that we shall continue to pass down the memories of the sufferings endured during and after the war."
Takaichi has repeatedly resisted acknowledging Japan's wartime aggression and atrocities. She has denied that coercion was used against Korean labourers and women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops, and was earlier part of a campaign to remove references to wartime sexual slavery, known as "comfort women", from school textbooks. She has said she belongs to a postwar generation that bears no responsibility for Japan's past actions and has no intention of apologising. Japan has seen revisionist pushback since the 2010s under former prime minister Shinzo Abe, whom Takaichi regards as a mentor. Since 2013, Japanese prime ministers have stopped apologising to Asian victims of wartime atrocities, following a precedent set by Abe. Last year, however, former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed "remorse" over the war and called it a mistake, though he did not mention Japan's aggression across Asia or issue an apology.
At Yasukuni, many who queued early said they had come to remember relatives lost in the war. Mariko Shinoda, 56, whose grandfather died as a kamikaze pilot, said she had visited the shrine with her mother every year on August 15 when she was a child. Her mother had told her that kamikaze pilots left on their final missions saying, "Let's meet at Yasukuni." Shinoda said, "To me, Yasukuni is where every spirit gathers, and that's where you get to see them on August 15." Masashi Ichimura, 48, whose grandfather went to war, said he often heard from his father about wartime hunger and hardship. "There is nothing good about the war, win or lose," he said. "But those who died in the war only fought for our country, and I just want to thank them for the sacrifice."
As Japan marked the end of the war, Takaichi's decision to stay away from Yasukuni, the visits by ministers and lawmakers, protests from China, remarks from South Korea and memories shared by families of the war dead kept the shrine, wartime history and regional ties at the centre of the anniversary.
With PTI Inputs
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stayed away from Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, apparently to prioritise ties with China and South Korea, as Japan marked the 81st anniversary of its surrender in World War II. In her address at a national memorial ceremony, she mourned those killed in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Okinawa and battlefronts overseas, but did not mention Japan's wartime conduct in Asia or express remorse over it.
Even as Takaichi avoided the shrine, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, three other Cabinet ministers, three executives of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a nonpartisan group of lawmakers visited it. China lodged a protest, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his administration would pursue "pragmatic diplomacy centred on national interests" and added that "Korea-Japan cooperation is now more important than ever."
Yasukuni commemorates more than 2.4 million people who died in wars, but it became controversial after 14 convicted Japanese war criminals from World War II were included there. China and South Korea say visits by Japanese officials show a lack of remorse over Japan's wartime atrocities. Speaking at Budokan Hall, a short walk from the shrine, Takaichi thanked the dead for their sacrifice as the "foundation of Japan's peace and prosperity today." She said, "Japan, since the end of the war, has consistently contributed to global peace and prosperity. We will never let the tragedy of the war be repeated," and added that Japan could play a key role in addressing global challenges as "a dependable nation" in the region.
The focus this week had been on whether Takaichi, who had repeatedly said she would pray at the shrine on August 15 despite the controversy, would keep that pledge. Instead, Koizumi, three other ministers, three ruling party executives and dozens of lawmakers turned up. China said the true intentions of the Japanese politicians were "to change the verdict on the war criminals, cover up Japan's war crimes, distort the historical facts and pave the way for accelerating militarisation," and urged Japan to do "serious soul searching" on history and make a clean break with militarism. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing had already risen in November when Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could amount to "a survival-threatening situation" for Japan requiring the use of force.
Lee said the "new bilateral relationship we are building must warmly illuminate those who are still suffering from pain in the shadows of history". Koizumi has regularly visited Yasukuni on August 15 and on other occasions, but his latest visit drew extra attention as he is defence minister in Takaichi's hawkish government, which is pushing to strengthen Japan's military capability and expand weapons sales. The previous shrine visit by a serving defence minister was made in 2024 by Minoru Kihara, now Takaichi's chief secretary and top government spokesperson. Japan's Defence Ministry bars group visits by members of the Self-Defense Forces because of the constitutional separation of religion and state. Koizumi did not stop to speak to reporters at the shrine, but later wrote on X that he had paid respects to the war dead and said, "I renewed my war-renouncing resolve and will continue to fulfil Japan's postwar responsibility as a peace-loving nation." He is the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose 2006 visit to Yasukuni angered China.
Later, three senior figures from the Liberal Democratic Party prayed together at the shrine and brought offerings on Takaichi's behalf in a rare joint visit, seen as a way to make up for her absence and appeal to right-wing supporters. Party secretary-general Shunichi Suzuki said he prayed while keeping in mind the prime minister's thoughts for "the spirits of the war dead" and had brought Takaichi's cash offerings in her capacity as party leader. Takaichi has not visited the shrine since taking office, though she has sent offerings twice for its biannual festivals. Appealing to right-wing voters is important for her at a time when her support is seen as falling rapidly amid criticism over delayed measures on rising prices and scandals, including alleged negative election-campaign videos and unpopular changes to rules on imperial family succession.
Japanese emperors, by contrast, have not visited Yasukuni since 1978, when the war criminals were enshrined there as "martyrs". They have, in more cautious terms, expressed regret over Japan's wartime past. Emperor Naruhito said at Saturday's ceremony that he hoped the ravages of war would never be repeated while "reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse". He added, "It is my sincere hope that we shall continue to pass down the memories of the sufferings endured during and after the war."
Takaichi has repeatedly resisted acknowledging Japan's wartime aggression and atrocities. She has denied that coercion was used against Korean labourers and women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops, and was earlier part of a campaign to remove references to wartime sexual slavery, known as "comfort women", from school textbooks. She has said she belongs to a postwar generation that bears no responsibility for Japan's past actions and has no intention of apologising. Japan has seen revisionist pushback since the 2010s under former prime minister Shinzo Abe, whom Takaichi regards as a mentor. Since 2013, Japanese prime ministers have stopped apologising to Asian victims of wartime atrocities, following a precedent set by Abe. Last year, however, former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed "remorse" over the war and called it a mistake, though he did not mention Japan's aggression across Asia or issue an apology.
At Yasukuni, many who queued early said they had come to remember relatives lost in the war. Mariko Shinoda, 56, whose grandfather died as a kamikaze pilot, said she had visited the shrine with her mother every year on August 15 when she was a child. Her mother had told her that kamikaze pilots left on their final missions saying, "Let's meet at Yasukuni." Shinoda said, "To me, Yasukuni is where every spirit gathers, and that's where you get to see them on August 15." Masashi Ichimura, 48, whose grandfather went to war, said he often heard from his father about wartime hunger and hardship. "There is nothing good about the war, win or lose," he said. "But those who died in the war only fought for our country, and I just want to thank them for the sacrifice."
As Japan marked the end of the war, Takaichi's decision to stay away from Yasukuni, the visits by ministers and lawmakers, protests from China, remarks from South Korea and memories shared by families of the war dead kept the shrine, wartime history and regional ties at the centre of the anniversary.
With PTI Inputs
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stayed away from Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, apparently to prioritise ties with China and South Korea, as Japan marked the 81st anniversary of its surrender in World War II. In her address at a national memorial ceremony, she mourned those killed in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Okinawa and battlefronts overseas, but did not mention Japan's wartime conduct in Asia or express remorse over it.
Even as Takaichi avoided the shrine, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, three other Cabinet ministers, three executives of her ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a nonpartisan group of lawmakers visited it. China lodged a protest, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his administration would pursue "pragmatic diplomacy centred on national interests" and added that "Korea-Japan cooperation is now more important than ever."
Yasukuni commemorates more than 2.4 million people who died in wars, but it became controversial after 14 convicted Japanese war criminals from World War II were included there. China and South Korea say visits by Japanese officials show a lack of remorse over Japan's wartime atrocities. Speaking at Budokan Hall, a short walk from the shrine, Takaichi thanked the dead for their sacrifice as the "foundation of Japan's peace and prosperity today." She said, "Japan, since the end of the war, has consistently contributed to global peace and prosperity. We will never let the tragedy of the war be repeated," and added that Japan could play a key role in addressing global challenges as "a dependable nation" in the region.
The focus this week had been on whether Takaichi, who had repeatedly said she would pray at the shrine on August 15 despite the controversy, would keep that pledge. Instead, Koizumi, three other ministers, three ruling party executives and dozens of lawmakers turned up. China said the true intentions of the Japanese politicians were "to change the verdict on the war criminals, cover up Japan's war crimes, distort the historical facts and pave the way for accelerating militarisation," and urged Japan to do "serious soul searching" on history and make a clean break with militarism. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing had already risen in November when Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could amount to "a survival-threatening situation" for Japan requiring the use of force.
Lee said the "new bilateral relationship we are building must warmly illuminate those who are still suffering from pain in the shadows of history". Koizumi has regularly visited Yasukuni on August 15 and on other occasions, but his latest visit drew extra attention as he is defence minister in Takaichi's hawkish government, which is pushing to strengthen Japan's military capability and expand weapons sales. The previous shrine visit by a serving defence minister was made in 2024 by Minoru Kihara, now Takaichi's chief secretary and top government spokesperson. Japan's Defence Ministry bars group visits by members of the Self-Defense Forces because of the constitutional separation of religion and state. Koizumi did not stop to speak to reporters at the shrine, but later wrote on X that he had paid respects to the war dead and said, "I renewed my war-renouncing resolve and will continue to fulfil Japan's postwar responsibility as a peace-loving nation." He is the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose 2006 visit to Yasukuni angered China.
Later, three senior figures from the Liberal Democratic Party prayed together at the shrine and brought offerings on Takaichi's behalf in a rare joint visit, seen as a way to make up for her absence and appeal to right-wing supporters. Party secretary-general Shunichi Suzuki said he prayed while keeping in mind the prime minister's thoughts for "the spirits of the war dead" and had brought Takaichi's cash offerings in her capacity as party leader. Takaichi has not visited the shrine since taking office, though she has sent offerings twice for its biannual festivals. Appealing to right-wing voters is important for her at a time when her support is seen as falling rapidly amid criticism over delayed measures on rising prices and scandals, including alleged negative election-campaign videos and unpopular changes to rules on imperial family succession.
Japanese emperors, by contrast, have not visited Yasukuni since 1978, when the war criminals were enshrined there as "martyrs". They have, in more cautious terms, expressed regret over Japan's wartime past. Emperor Naruhito said at Saturday's ceremony that he hoped the ravages of war would never be repeated while "reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse". He added, "It is my sincere hope that we shall continue to pass down the memories of the sufferings endured during and after the war."
Takaichi has repeatedly resisted acknowledging Japan's wartime aggression and atrocities. She has denied that coercion was used against Korean labourers and women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops, and was earlier part of a campaign to remove references to wartime sexual slavery, known as "comfort women", from school textbooks. She has said she belongs to a postwar generation that bears no responsibility for Japan's past actions and has no intention of apologising. Japan has seen revisionist pushback since the 2010s under former prime minister Shinzo Abe, whom Takaichi regards as a mentor. Since 2013, Japanese prime ministers have stopped apologising to Asian victims of wartime atrocities, following a precedent set by Abe. Last year, however, former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed "remorse" over the war and called it a mistake, though he did not mention Japan's aggression across Asia or issue an apology.
At Yasukuni, many who queued early said they had come to remember relatives lost in the war. Mariko Shinoda, 56, whose grandfather died as a kamikaze pilot, said she had visited the shrine with her mother every year on August 15 when she was a child. Her mother had told her that kamikaze pilots left on their final missions saying, "Let's meet at Yasukuni." Shinoda said, "To me, Yasukuni is where every spirit gathers, and that's where you get to see them on August 15." Masashi Ichimura, 48, whose grandfather went to war, said he often heard from his father about wartime hunger and hardship. "There is nothing good about the war, win or lose," he said. "But those who died in the war only fought for our country, and I just want to thank them for the sacrifice."
As Japan marked the end of the war, Takaichi's decision to stay away from Yasukuni, the visits by ministers and lawmakers, protests from China, remarks from South Korea and memories shared by families of the war dead kept the shrine, wartime history and regional ties at the centre of the anniversary.
With PTI Inputs
