# Japanese leadership Yasukuni Shrine visits > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/japanese-leadership-yasukuni-shrine-visits > Updated: 2026-08-15T00:32:38.000Z. Sources: 38. Developments: 3. As the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II approached, Japanese leadership faced a dilemma regarding visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, a site that honors Japan’s war dead including 14 Class-A war criminals. On August 14 and 15, 2026, several high-ranking officials conducted visits to the shrine. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda were among those in attendance, alongside senior members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki. This marked the seventh consecutive year a sitting cabinet minister visited on this date. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opted to forgo a formal personal visit, choosing instead to offer a private ritual offering, known as ‘tamagushi-ryo’, at her own expense in her capacity as LDP president. This distinction is viewed as an attempt to avoid direct diplomatic friction. During her address at the national memorial service, Takaichi described Japan as a ‘shining lighthouse in the Indo-Pacific,’ though she notably omitted terms such as ‘reflection’, ‘lessons’, ‘remorse’, and the ‘pledge of non-war’ that had been used by her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba. The visits drew strong condemnation from neighboring countries. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a formal protest, describing the actions as a ‘provocation against the post-war international order’ and a ‘challenge to the bottom line of civilization.’ Similarly, South Korean lawmakers expressed regret, viewing the visits as provocative and anachronistic actions that undermine diplomatic trust and symbolize Japan's imperialistic past. ## Claims - Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine on August 15. (corroborated by 19 sources) - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine using her own funds rather than visiting in person. (corroborated by 18 sources) - Yasukuni Shrine commemorates approximately 2.46 million war dead, including 14 Class-A war criminals. (corroborated by 14 sources) - LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki, General Council Chair Haruko Arimura, and Election Strategy Committee Chair Yasutoshi Nishimura visited the shrine as a group. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda visited Yasukuni Shrine on August 15. (corroborated by 7 sources) - China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a strong protest against Japanese officials visiting Yasukuni Shrine. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Prime Minister Takaichi's decision to abstain from visiting was reportedly intended to avoid damaging diplomatic relations with China and South Korea. (corroborated by 3 sources) - In her address at the national memorial service, Prime Minister Takaichi omitted previous mentions of 'reflection' and 'lessons' from the war. (corroborated by 3 sources) - South Korean lawmakers expressed regret over the visits, describing them as anachronistic provocations. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-15: Sanae Takaichi omits remorse in memorial address as officials visit Yasukuni Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi submitted a private offering to Yasukuni Shrine but omitted apologies for past aggression in her official memorial address, amid visits by other high-ranking officials. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sanae-takaichi-omits-remorse-in-memorial-address-as-officials-visit-yasukuni ### 2026-08-14: Japanese ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine on WWII anniversary Japanese ministers, including Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, visited Yasukuni Shrine on the 81st anniversary of Japan's WWII surrender, sparking strong protests from China and South Korea. 31 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shinjiro-koizumi-visits-yasukuni-shrine-on-wwii-anniversary ### 2026-08-12: Sanae Takaichi may skip Yasukuni Shrine visit on WWII anniversary Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to skip a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on the WWII anniversary to preserve diplomatic relations with South Korea and China. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sanae-takaichi-reportedly-to-forgo-yasukuni-shrine-visit --- Cite as: Japanese leadership Yasukuni Shrine visits. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/japanese-leadership-yasukuni-shrine-visits