Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Japan Defense Minister Visits Yasukuni Shrine; China Lodges Protest
In Tokyo, Japan, there is a big shrine called Yasukuni Shrine.
It honors about 2.5 million soldiers who died in wars long ago.
Some of the people honored there did very bad things during World War Two, so Japan's neighbors get upset when leaders visit.
China and South Korea are especially unhappy about such visits.
On Saturday, Japan's defense minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, went to the shrine.
That day was the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.
Another minister, Kimi Onoda, also visited.
China said it strongly disagreed and made a formal protest.
South Korea said visits like this hurt friendship between countries.
Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, did not visit, but she sent a gift offering to the shrine.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.
Kimi Onoda, minister for economic security, also visited the shrine on Saturday, according to public broadcaster NHK.
China strongly condemned the visit, saying it had lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with Japan.
China and South Korea say senior visits to Yasukuni gloss over Tokyo's wartime actions and damage diplomatic ties.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the shrine; no sitting Japanese prime minister has visited since Shinzo Abe in December 2013.
- Who
- Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's defense minister, with economic security minister Kimi Onoda also visiting; Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering.
- What
- A visit to Yasukuni Shrine, which commemorates about 2.5 million war dead but is seen by Asian neighbours as a symbol of wartime aggression.
- When
- Saturday, August 15, 2026, the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.
- Where
- Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo, Japan.
- Why
- Koizumi visited to honour the nation's war dead, an act officials describe as a personal tribute, while China and South Korea say it glosses over Tokyo's wartime actions.
Critics: China and South Korea
Japan's Officials
Meaning of the Yasukuni visits
Critics: China and South Korea
Visits by senior officials gloss over Tokyo's wartime actions; the shrine is a symbol of wartime aggression and commemorates 14 leaders convicted of the most serious war crimes.
Japan's Officials
Past visits have been explained as made in officials' personal capacity to honour those who died in the nation's wars.
Impact on diplomacy
Critics: China and South Korea
Such visits damage diplomatic ties between Japan and its neighbours.
Japan's Officials
Officials frame the visit as a personal act of remembrance, and the current prime minister did not visit, instead sending only a ritual offering.
- Date
- Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Occasion
- 81st anniversary of Japan's World War Two surrender
- Main visitor
- Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi
- Other visitor
- Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda
- War dead commemorated
- 2.5 million, including 14 wartime leaders convicted of war crimes
- Prime Minister
- Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering
- Last sitting PM to visit
- Shinzo Abe, December 2013
- Last premier to visit on this anniversary
- Junichiro Koizumi, 2006