Japan’s Minister of Economic Security, Sanae Takaichi, made a pilgrimage to the Shinto shrine, which commemorates the victims who died in wars for the Japanese Empire, even if they were convicted and executed war criminals.
Pilgrimages by Japanese politicians repeatedly provoke criticism from China and South Korea. After all, those countries were victims of Japanese aggression in World War II. For critics, the Yasukuni Shrine is a symbol of Japanese militarism of the time.
At a memorial service for the 3.1 million Japanese fallen soldiers and civilian victims of World War II, Prime Minister Kishida did not speak about Japanese aggression. Neither did his predecessor Shinzo Abe, who was shot dead on July 8. He did say that Japan, in a world full of conflict, will do everything to contribute to a peaceful solution of problems with the international community.
