Japan commemorated the 80th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito's surrender announcement on August 15, 1945. Agricultural Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine, known for enshrining war criminals. The shrine has stirred controversy due to Japan's militaristic past. National and local politicians attended the memorial, where over 4,000 people gathered for the National Memorial Ceremony. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the importance of learning from the past and the necessity of avoiding future conflicts, marking a significant acknowledgment of remorse for past actions.
"The Yasukuni Shrine is considered a political lightning rod in East Asia, where memories of Japan's wartime atrocities are not forgotten, but senior Japanese leaders have continued to visit over the years."
"We should never repeat the devastation of war. We will never, ever make a mistake in choosing the path to take," Ishiba said, according to Kyodo News.
Collection
[
|
...
]