Japanese Economy Minister Visits Yasukuni Shrine... South Korea Expresses "Deep Regret" (Comprehensive)

Prime Minister Kishida Adjusts to Not Participate in Shrine Visit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Nishimura Yasutoshi, Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, paid a visit to Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are enshrined. This marks his second visit this year. There are expectations that Prime Minister Kishida will not pay a visit.

According to Japan's NHK and Kyodo News on the 14th, Minister Nishimura said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, "I believe it is natural and proper to show respect to the spirits who sacrificed themselves for the country," adding, "I always vow in my heart to never repeat the horrors of war and to continue advancing the path of peace that postwar Japan has taken."

Ahead of the autumn festival (memorial service) starting on the 17th, he visited Yasukuni Shrine and personally offered tamagushi (a branch of the sacred sakaki tree with white paper strips attached). Minister Nishimura also visited Yasukuni Shrine on August 13, two days before the anniversary of Japan's defeat (August 15) this year.

In response, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official stated, "The government expresses deep disappointment and regret over the visit of a Japanese government minister to Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's past invasion wars and enshrines war criminals."

Japanese ministers and lawmakers often visit Yasukuni Shrine during the spring and autumn festivals (April and October) and on the anniversary of Japan's defeat (August 15), causing backlash from neighboring countries including South Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is expected not to visit Yasukuni Shrine. Kyodo News reported, "According to sources, Prime Minister Kishida is adjusting to not pay a visit." Since taking office in October last year, he has offered offerings during the spring and autumn festivals and on the anniversary of defeat but has not visited the shrine in person.

On the other hand, a cross-party group of lawmakers called the "Parliamentary Group Visiting Yasukuni Shrine Together" announced a collective visit on the 18th. Among them, 100 members also visited collectively during the spring festival in April but did not visit on the anniversary of defeat due to the spread of COVID-19.

Located in Tokyo, Yasukuni Shrine enshrines the spirits of 2,466,000 people who died in civil wars after the Meiji Restoration and wars waged by Imperial Japan. Of these, 90% are related to the Pacific War. The shrine also enshrines 14 Class A war criminals from the Pacific War, including former Prime Minister Tojo Hideki, who was executed by hanging following the Far East International Military Tribunal (Tokyo Trials).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.