Despite the hectic runup to the general election, former Prime Ministers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, as well as a Cabinet minister and other Diet members, found time to visit Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday.
Prime Minister Taro Aso, however, opted not to visit the shrine, which is widely viewed as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, on the 64th anniversary of the end of the war.
Thirty-five current and former Diet members visited as a group that encourages lawmakers to visit Yasukuni and paid their respects.