Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Offers Ritual at Yasukuni Shrine for WWII Anniversary

Prime minister avoids visit while cabinet members pay tribute to war criminal-linked shrine

Doves are released as a symbol of peace at Yasukuni Shrine for the war dead in Tokyo on Aug. 15, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. © Reuters

August 15, 2026 11:22 JST

Tokyo (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, while the country’s defense chief Shinjiro Koizumi visited the site as Japan marks the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II.

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