Key Facts
• On August 15, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery.
• He will not visit Yasukuni Shrine but will privately fund a ritual offering.
• No cabinet members have visited Yasukuni Shrine since Ishiba’s cabinet was formed in October 2024.
• Focus remains on whether cabinet members will visit Yasukuni Shrine on this day.
• Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine in 2020 and 2021 as Environment Minister.
• Koizumi stated on August 8 that he will make an “appropriate decision” this year.
• A bipartisan parliamentary group will visit Yasukuni Shrine on the morning of August 15.
• Former Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Nishimura, recently visited Yasukuni Shrine, emphasizing peace and prosperity.
• Historical context: Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone made an official visit to Yasukuni Shrine 40 years ago on August 15.
Summary
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II by visiting Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery on August 15. While he will not visit Yasukuni Shrine, he plans to privately fund a ritual offering as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. This continues a trend under his administration, as no cabinet members have visited the shrine since his cabinet’s formation in October 2024. Attention is focused on whether any cabinet members will visit Yasukuni Shrine this year. Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who visited the shrine in 2020 and 2021, has yet to announce his decision. A bipartisan parliamentary group will also visit the shrine on the same day. The event recalls historical debates over official visits, including former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone’s visit 40 years ago. The issue remains a sensitive topic in Japan’s political and diplomatic landscape.
