Dozens Including Japan Self-Defense Forces Army Deputy Chief Visit Yasukuni Shrine Collectively

JSDF Explains "Private Acts," but Army Deputy Chief Controversy Over Use of Official Vehicle for Transport

According to Kyodo News on the 11th, dozens of Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel, including a general, collectively visited the Tokyo Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals from the Pacific War are enshrined, to pay their respects.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the report, members of the Ground Self-Defense Force Aviation Accident Investigation Committee, led by Hiroki Kobayashi, Chief of the Ground Staff Office, visited Yasukuni Shrine on the 9th. The Chief of the Ground Staff Office holds the second highest position in the Ground Staff Office, which corresponds to the Army Headquarters in Korea, following the Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force.

Kyodo News reported that they took leave to visit Yasukuni Shrine to pray for safety in the New Year.

Regarding this, the Self-Defense Forces told Asahi Shimbun, "Since the visit was during leave time, it was a private act, and the official vehicle was used to quickly return to duty due to the strong earthquake in the Noto Peninsula," adding that "there is no problem."

However, Kyodo News pointed out that they may have violated the Ministry of Defense's internal regulations prohibiting collective worship at Self-Defense Force units' religious chapels and forcing personnel to worship. There were also criticisms that Kobayashi's claim that the use of the official vehicle did not constitute official business was inappropriate.

The Ministry of Defense is currently investigating the facts related to the collective worship by Self-Defense Forces personnel.

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