On August 15, which marks both Korea's Liberation Day and Japan's Defeat Day, Takaichi Sanae, Japan's Prime Minister, did not visit Yasukuni Shrine but instead made a monetary offering in her capacity as president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
According to Yonhap News and local media reports, Takaichi donated funds known as 'tamagushi' to Yasukuni Shrine out of her own pocket. This offering was made as LDP president rather than as Prime Minister.
While she had regularly visited the shrine on August 15 before taking office, it is believed that she refrained from doing so this year due to potential backlash from neighboring countries such as South Korea and China. In Japan, August 15 is referred to as Victory Day.
On the same day, Takaichi visited the Tokyo Memorial Cemetery to pay her respects.
In contrast, Defense Minister Kono Shinjiro made a surprise visit to Yasukuni Shrine around 7 a.m. This marks the first time a sitting defense minister has visited the shrine on Japan's Defeat Day since former Defense Minister Kihara Minoru in 2024. Kono's visit is notable as it is the seventh consecutive year that a current Japanese minister has paid tribute at Yasukuni.
Additionally, Okinawa and Northern Territories Minister Kawai Hitoshi also visited Yasukuni Shrine that morning and made a monetary offering.
Following Kono, key LDP officials, including Secretary-General Suzuki Shunichi, General Affairs Chairman Arimura Haruko, and Election Strategy Committee Chairman Nishimura Yasutoshi, collectively visited Yasukuni Shrine. This group visit by senior LDP officials on the anniversary of Japan's defeat is considered unusual.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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