Japanese Ministers Visit Yasukuni Shrine on War Surrender Anniversary

The Tokyo shrine honors 2.5 million war dead, though its inclusion of convicted war criminals among the commemorated has long fueled international friction. Critics in Seoul and Beijing argue that official visits to the site minimize Japan’s wartime aggression and serve as a barrier to genuine reconciliation. While Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opted to send a ritual offering rather than appearing in person, the presence of two cabinet ministers signifies the ongoing political sensitivity surrounding the site. No sitting prime minister has visited the shrine since Shinzo Abe in 2013, an appearance that drew rare public disapproval from the Obama administration at the time.