Japan's Defense Minister Visits Yasukuni Shrine, Drawing Condemnation from China and South Korea
Geopolitics
Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's Defense Minister, visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, August 15, 2026, the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, prompting condemnation from China and South Korea, both of which view the shrine as a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression. China's Foreign Ministry said it had lodged a formal protest with the Japanese government, while South Korea's Foreign Ministry expressed deep regret and called on Japanese leaders to face history and show sincere remorse. Kimi Onoda, Japan's Minister for Economic Security, also visited the shrine, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering instead. Yasukuni Shrine commemorates around 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including 14 wartime leaders convicted of the highest class of war crimes.
