Three Japanese Cabinet ministers visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday as the country marked 79 years since the end of World War Two.
They are Economic Revitalization Minister Shindo Yoshitaka, Defense Minister Kihara Minoru, and Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae.
The shrine honors Japan’s war dead. Those remembered include leaders convicted of war crimes after World War Two.
Kihara later told reporters that he went to mourn and pay his respects to those who made noble sacrifices in the war.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio did not visit the shrine, but made a private cash offering in the capacity as the president of the Liberal Democratic Party through his aide.
The aide — the Liberal Democratic Party’s Lower House lawmaker Kameoka Yoshitami — said he was asked by the prime minister to visit the shrine to express gratitude to and pray for the repose of the war dead.
Since becoming prime minister in 2021, Kishida has made similar cash offerings from his private funds on August 15 in 2022 and 2023.
Separately, more than 70 members of a non-partisan group of Japanese lawmakers also visited Yasukuni Shrine.
Former Diet affairs chief of the Liberal Democratic Party Aisawa Ichiro, is a senior member of the group.
Aisawa told reporters that their wish is for people across generations to keep in mind the tragedy of war and the preciousness of peace as Japan progresses toward the future.
On Thursday, Kishida paid a visit to the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery, where the unidentified remains of the war dead, including those who died in battlegrounds overseas, are housed. He made an offering of flowers and prayed for their souls.