Key facts
- Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine.
- China views the Yasukuni Shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering on August 15, 2026.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit the Yasukuni Shrine in person.
- South Korea denounced visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials.
- South Korea urged Japan's leaders to face history and show remorse.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has visited the Yasukuni Shrine, a move that has drawn criticism from China. China views the shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. In a separate but related development, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, 2026. However, Prime Minister Takaichi did not visit the shrine in person. South Korea has denounced visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese officials and politicians. The South Korean government urged Japan's leaders to squarely face history and show remorse for past actions. The Yasukuni Shrine honors Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals, and is a site of historical contention for neighboring countries that suffered under Japanese occupation.