TOKYO — Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on August 15, 2026. The visit occurred on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

Koizumi left the shrine without responding to reporters' questions. He later stated on Instagram: "I visited to offer my sincere condolences to the heroic spirits who sacrificed their precious lives for the nation." He added: "Along with our vow to renounce war, I reaffirmed our determination to continue fulfilling our responsibility to uphold Japan’s postwar path as a peaceful nation." Koizumi has served as the Minister of Defense since October 2025, and Sanae Takaichi became Japan's prime minister in October 2025.

Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to 2.5 million war dead, mostly Japanese. Among those commemorated are 14 wartime leaders convicted of serious war crimes and at least 1,000 others found guilty by Allied tribunals after Japan’s 1945 defeat. Japan’s Defense Ministry prohibits group visits by Self-Defense Forces service members to Yasukuni Shrine on grounds of constitutional separation of religion and state.

Why It Matters

The events described span 20 years, from 2006 to 2026. Yasukuni Shrine was established in 1869. Japan is located in East Asia & Pacific and is classified by the World Bank as a high income economy.

Timeline

In 2006, Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine as serving prime minister. In December 2013, the last sitting Japanese prime minister to visit Yasukuni Shrine was Shinzo Abe. In 2024, the previous visit to Yasukuni Shrine by a Japanese defense minister was by Minoru Kihara.

On August 15, 2026, Japanese defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Also on August 15, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "deep regret" over the actions of Japanese leaders who sent offerings or visited Yasukuni Shrine. On the same date, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit Yasukuni Shrine. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it "strongly condemns" Prime Minister Takaichi’s offering and Minister Koizumi’s visit to the shrine on August 15, 2026. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Japan’s leaders to face history and demonstrate "humble reflection and sincere remorse" for the past on August 15, 2026.

What's New

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday skipped a visit to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni shrine and sent an offering instead, but Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and three other Cabinet members went there on the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine took place 81 years after Japan’s surrender in World War II, an anniversary when crowds, including a small number in military-style uniform — and senior political figures — throng the site. Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine as serving prime minister in 2006.

Three executives from the Liberal Democratic Party prayed together at Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, 2026. Shinjiro Koizumi is the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Shunichi Suzuki told reporters he prayed while keeping in mind the prime minister’s thoughts for "the spirits of the war dead." Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki brought cash offerings from Prime Minister Takaichi in her capacity as party leader. Japan’s Defense Ministry prohibits group visits by Self-Defense Forces service members to Yasukuni Shrine on grounds of constitutional separation of religion and state.

How Sources Differ

Regarding whether the prime minister visited Yasukuni, the primary source plus additional sources two and three state that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, 2026, while newsdata states that Junichiro Koizumi was the last sitting prime minister to visit Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversary, doing so in 2006. Regarding Prime Minister Koizumi's visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it "strongly condemns" Prime Minister Takaichi’s offering and Minister Koizumi’s visit to the shrine, while newsdata states that Junichiro Koizumi was the last sitting prime minister to visit Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversary, doing so in 2006. Regarding Junichiro Koizumi and Yasukuni as prime minister, additional source two states that Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine as serving prime minister in 2006, while newsdata states that Junichiro Koizumi was the last sitting prime minister to visit Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversary, doing so in 2006. Regarding Koizumi and Prime Minister Junichiro, apnews.com states that Shinjiro Koizumi is the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, while newsdata states that Junichiro Koizumi was the last sitting prime minister to visit Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversary, doing so in 2006. Regarding the last sitting prime minister to visit Yasukuni, the primary source plus additional source three state that the last sitting Japanese prime minister to visit Yasukuni Shrine was Shinzo Abe in December 2013, while newsdata states that Junichiro Koizumi was the last sitting prime minister to visit Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversary, doing so in 2006. Regarding the last sitting prime minister to visit, desk_web states that the last sitting Japanese prime minister to visit the shrine was Shinzo Abe in December 2013, when he drew an expression of disappointment from the administration of then-United States President Barack Obama, while newsdata states that Junichiro Koizumi was the last sitting prime minister to visit Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversary, doing so in 2006.