Over 90 Japanese Diet Members Make Collective Visit to Yasukuni Shrine... Second Time This Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyeon-jin] More than 90 Japanese lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties collectively paid tribute at Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals from the Pacific War are enshrined, on the 18th.

Kyodo News reported that on the second day of the Yasukuni Shrine Autumn Grand Festival (Reitaisai), members of the cross-party parliamentary group "Parliamentarians Visiting Yasukuni Shrine Together" collectively visited the shrine in the morning. According to the group's secretariat, about 90 members from the Liberal Democratic Party, Japan Innovation Party, Democratic Party for the People, NHK Party, and independents participated.

Ichiro Aisawa, vice chairman of the group, said after the visit, "I once again engraved the importance of peace in my heart." He interpreted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's offering of tribute the previous day as "containing a deep sentiment that war must never be waged again."

This group's collective visit to Yasukuni Shrine was the first in about six months since the Spring Grand Festival in April. They have been collectively visiting Yasukuni Shrine annually during the Spring (April) and Autumn (October) Grand Festivals and on the Pacific War's end date (August 15).

They had not visited collectively since October 18, 2019, due to the spread of COVID-19 and other circumstances, resuming in December last year after two years and two months. They also visited collectively during the Spring Grand Festival in April this year but postponed the collective visit on the defeat anniversary in August due to COVID-19 concerns.

Prime Minister Kishida offered a tribute called "Masakaki" in the name of "Prime Minister Fumio Kishida" the day before. Kyodo News reported that Kishida does not plan to visit the shrine in person.

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