Industry minister visits Yasukuni Shrine
10:52 JST, August 15, 2022
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, two days before the 77th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.
He is the first cabinet minister whose visit to the war-related shrine has been confirmed since Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s administration was launched in October last year.
“I prayed for peaceful rest of the souls of the war dead, thinking about former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” Nishimura told reporters after the shrine visit.
“I made a pledge to do my utmost for the peace and prosperity of Japan and the world,” he added.
Yasukuni Shrine is regarded as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism by neighboring countries including China and South Korea as it enshrines war criminals along with the war dead. Abe was shot dead last month.
Nishimura returned to the government in Wednesday’s cabinet reshuffle. He visited the Shinto shrine around the Aug. 15 war anniversary in 2020 and 2021 when he was economic revitalization minister under the administrations of Abe and his successor, Yoshihide Suga.
On the occasions of last year’s autumn festival and this year’s spring festival, none of the then ministers of Kishida’s cabinet visited Yasukuni Shrine.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Promotes Revised NISA Investment Program to Young People; Kishida Focusing on Moving Money From Savings to Investment in a Safe Environment
-
84% of People Nationwide Say They Feel Japan’s National Security Is Under Threat
-
“High Probability” 2 MSDF Patrol Helicopters Collided near Torishima Island; 1 Dead, 7 Others Onboard Missing (Update 2)
-
Russia to Ban Non-Registered Vessels from Waters Around Northern Territories From April 11 to 17
-
Japan-U.K. Foreign Ministers Confirm Deepening Cooperation in Security Field; Kamikawa Underscores Importance of NATO Ties
JN ACCESS RANKING
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’
- JAL Airplane Experiences Radio Malfunction During Flight, Lands Safely By Relying on Light Signals