Topic
Yasukuni Shrine, located in Tokyo, Japan, is dedicated to over 2,466,000 Japanese soldiers and servicemen who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan in the last 150 years. It also houses one of the few Japanese war museums dedicated to World War II.The shrine is at the center of an international controversy by honoring war criminals convicted by a post World War II court including 14 'Class A' war criminals. Japanese politicians, including prime ministers and cabinet members have paid visits to Yasukuni Shrine in recent years which caused criticism and protests from China, Korea, and Taiwan.
Assassination of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister is a shock to the nation and world, and serves as wake-up call.
- Umio Otsuka’s appointment marks the first time since 1978 for a former military official to assume the post
- Beijing and Seoul see the shrine as a symbol of Tokyo’s wartime aggression
Pyongyang accused Tokyo of trying to revive its dream to ‘reinvade the Korean peninsula’ after SDF members visited the controversial temple.
Past visits to controversial Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese prime ministers have drawn harsh criticism from China and South Korea, who view it as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism.
The South Korean president called for ties to ‘swiftly and properly improve’ as the ‘mission of our times align’. It came as Fumio Kishida sent an offering to a controversial shrine – and pledged that Japan would never again wage war.
Yasutoshi Nishimura is the first minister known to have visited the shrine since Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government was inaugurated last October.
Eastern Chinese city sacks Buddhist temple leader after viral social media photos show tablets dedicated to WWII military figures executed for war crimes.
Abe worked hard to improve China-Japan relations,’ Xi Jinping says in message to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida following assassination of former leader.
Abe is seen as working to improve relations during his two terms in office, but his recent comments on Taiwan had angered Beijing.
Seoul expressed ‘deep disappointment and regret’ after the prime minister sent a ritual offering to the shrine which glorifies Japan’s war criminals.
For Chinese society, 2021 was a transformative and often disruptive year. Here is a list of the most important stories of the year
A famous producer is gaining traction online for questioning how a powerful industry association is handling celebrities in the middle of scandals.
‘Unfair’ opened on October 10 and closed two days later after swastika motifs and male staff in uniforms at Osaka venue proved unpopular online.
The Yasukuni Shrine honours Japan’s war dead and is seen by China and South Korea as a symbol of Tokyo’s past militarism.
Beijing says the cabinet members’ actions reflect Tokyo’s ‘wrong attitude’ to its history of aggression.
China Association of Performing Arts says a public figure has no excuse for ignorance and asks members to boycott Zhang, who apologised for photos at the site.
‘Since the end of the war, Japan has consistently walked the path of a country that values peace,’ Suga said in a speech marking the anniversary of the end of World War II.
An academic says it is unlikely she was aware of the full significance of visiting the shrine, which commemorates millions of Japanese war dead, including convicted war criminals.
The shrine is seen by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan’s past military aggression as it honours wartime leaders convicted as war criminals.
From a turn as Super Mario to a visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, here are some of the key moments of Abe’s record-breaking time in office.
PM Shinzo Abe vowed ‘never to repeat the tragedy’ on 75th anniversary of Japan’s surrender but sent an offering to controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
He will miss the ceremony for the 75th anniversary of Tokyo’s WWII surrender at the controversial shrine, which also honours Class A war criminals.
Alex Kwok and Yim Man-wa were convicted by a Tokyo court in October and given suspended jail sentences of eight and six months respectively.
Nakasone served as prime minister from 1982 to 1987, boosting Japan’s global profile, but he battled to enact sweeping reforms at home.
