Photo/Illutration Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on the morning of Aug. 15, the 76th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. (Nobuo Fujiwara)

Two Cabinet ministers as well as former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid visits to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine to honor the war dead on Aug. 15, the 76th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

Visits by Cabinet members to the Shinto shrine in Chiyoda Ward generate controversy because the facility is viewed as a symbol of Japan’s past military aggression in Asia as the souls of 14 Class-A war criminals, among them executed wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, are enshrined there.

Aside from Abe, Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and education minister Koichi Hagiuda paid personal tributes at the shrine on Aug. 15.

After his visit, Hagiuda explained to reporters that he made a cash offering out of his pocket and signed his name “Education minister, a member of the Lower House, Koichi Hagiuda.”

“I renewed my pledge to prolong peace after offering heartfelt condolences to the souls of people who sacrificed their lives in the war,” he said.

Koizumi, the son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, did not reply to questions from reporters.

The pair also visited the shrine last Aug. 15 when they served in Abe’s Cabinet.

Shinji Inoue, minister in charge of science and technology policy, and Eiichiro Washio, state minister for foreign affairs, also visited the shrine this Aug. 15.

Asked by reporters, Inoue said he made money offering at his own expense and signed his name as a member of the Lower House.

Washio said he visited in the capacity of a private individual.

On Aug. 13, Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of economic revitalization who is responsible for the government's handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic, paid a visit to the shrine.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, Abe's younger brother, also visited.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga arranged for a cash offering to be delivered to the shrine, which he “paid out of his pocket” and “in his capacity as a private individual,” according to an aide.

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