Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi prayed at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, Aug. 15, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. While Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi skipped the visit to avoid diplomatic friction, she sent a ritual offering to the site, which honors convicted war criminals.
The visit by Shinjiro Koizumi comes at a time of heightened friction between Tokyo and Beijing. Koizumi, who regularly visits the shrine, walked past journalists without comment on Saturday. His presence is viewed as more contentious than previous visits because he currently serves as defense chief under a government pushing for increased weapons sales and military capability.
Sanae Takaichi’s Ritual Offering and Absence
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not attend the ceremony in person, despite previous pledges to visit on the anniversary of the surrender. Instead, she sent a ritual offering paid for out of her own pocket. This decision follows reports that Takaichi sought to prevent further deterioration of ties with China and maintain relations with South Korea.
To signal her connection to the site for right-wing supporters, Takaichi utilized proxies. Three executives from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) conducted a rare joint visit on her behalf. Among them was LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki, who brought Takaichi’s cash offerings in her role as party leader.
Takaichi’s political standing is reportedly under pressure due to scandals involving alleged negative election campaign videos, unpopular revisions to imperial family succession rules, and delayed economic measures to combat rising prices. By sending offerings and proxies, she attempts to balance the demands of conservative voters with the risks of international condemnation.
Cabinet Presence and the Defense Ministry Precedent
Koizumi was not the only government official at the shrine.
- Shinjiro Koizumi, Defense Minister
- Minoru Kiuchi, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister
- Kimi Onoda, Economic Security Minister
- Hitoshi Kikawada, Minister in charge of issues related to Okinawa and the Northern Territories
Koizumi is the first sitting defense minister to visit on the anniversary since 2024, when Minoru Kihara made the trip. Kihara now serves as Takaichi’s chief Cabinet secretary. While the Defense Ministry prohibits group visits by Self-Defense Forces service members to maintain the constitutional separation of religion and state, individual ministers have continued the practice.
Yasukuni Shrine and Class-A War Criminals
The controversy surrounding Yasukuni stems from its enshrinement of more than 2.4 million people, including 14 Class-A war criminals. These leaders, including wartime Prime Minister Gen. Hideki Tojo, who was executed in 1948 for crimes against peace. The enshrinements were conducted in secret in 1978.
China and South Korea view these visits as evidence of a lack of remorse for wartime atrocities. China reacted quickly to Saturday’s events, stating it deplores
the developments and lodging serious
protests with the Japanese government.
Security Tensions and the Taiwan Factor
The diplomatic stakes are amplified by Takaichi’s recent rhetoric regarding regional security. In November, she suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a survival-threatening situation
for Japan, which could necessitate the use of force. This statement enraged Beijing and has left Tokyo facing significant political and economic pressure.
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