Members of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet made a visit to Yasukuni Shrine, seen by Japan's neighbors as a symbol of its past militarism, on Saturday morning as the country marked the 75th anniversary of its surrender in World War II, while Abe himself sent a ritual offering.
Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi was the first Cabinet member since 2016 to visit the shrine in central Tokyo on the Aug. 15 anniversary. His visit was followed by that of education minister Koichi Hagiuda. Internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi and Seiichi Eto, minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, also visited the shrine.
Abe is expected to refrain from visiting the Shinto shrine, which honors convicted war criminals along with millions of war dead.