Internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi, as well as a cross-party group of about 100 lawmakers, paid homage Friday at war-linked Yasukuni Shrine during its autumn festival, a day after a visit from a different Cabinet minister drew criticism from China and South Korea.
Takaichi was the second Cabinet member to visit the shrine this week, following Seiichi Eto, minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, who visited on Thursday.
"I visited the shrine as a Japanese citizen. Paying respect and offering gratitude to the people who lost their lives for the nation is normally done in any country," Takaichi claimed after the visit, adding that she also sent a ritual offering at her personal expense.