Japan has come under renewed diplomatic pressure from China and South Korea after Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a site closely associated with Japan’s wartime past.
Koizumi visited the shrine on August 15, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. His visit, alongside that of other Japanese political figures, prompted strong criticism from Beijing and Seoul.
Yasukuni Shrine honours more than 2.4 million Japanese war dead, but its inclusion of 14 Class-A war criminals convicted after World War II has made it a deeply sensitive issue for countries that suffered under Japanese occupation and wartime aggression.
Takaichi Avoids Personal Visit
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit the shrine personally this year, a move widely viewed as an attempt to avoid further damaging relations with China and South Korea. However, she sent a ritual offering to the shrine in her capacity as president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Takaichi had previously visited Yasukuni regularly before becoming prime minister. Her decision to stay away was therefore closely watched as a potential diplomatic gesture.
Despite avoiding a personal visit, Takaichi also drew attention by failing to explicitly express remorse for Japan’s wartime actions during her address marking the anniversary. She instead stressed that the horrors of war should never be repeated and highlighted Japan’s postwar commitment to peace.
China and South Korea Protest
China strongly condemned the shrine-related visits and said it had lodged a formal protest with Japan. Beijing views Yasukuni as a symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression and has repeatedly criticised visits by senior Japanese officials.
South Korea also expressed deep regret, urging Japanese leaders to confront their country’s wartime history and demonstrate sincere reflection through their actions. South Korean lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties criticised the visits.
The dispute highlights the continuing sensitivity surrounding Japan’s wartime legacy, even as Tokyo seeks stronger diplomatic and security relationships with both neighbours.
For Takaichi’s government, the episode represents a delicate balancing act: maintaining ties with China and South Korea while also managing domestic political support among conservative voters who view Yasukuni as an important symbol of national remembrance.
The latest controversy demonstrates that decades after the end of World War II, Japan’s wartime history remains a major factor shaping diplomacy in East Asia.