- Title: Japan commemorates 74th anniversary of World War 2 surrender at Yasukuni Shrine
- Date: 15th August 2019
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 15, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VISITORS WALKING THROUGH YASUKUNI SHRINE GATE VARIOUS OF VISITORS WALKING INTO SHRINE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 21-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT AND SHRINE VISITOR, KOU YOSHIOKA, SAYING: "Actually, my great grandfather also died in the war and I feel like I should always remember that. And I so I have come (to pray) so that I don't forget this." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 71-YEAR OLD FORMER TOKYO SUGINAMI WARD LAWMAKER AND SHRINE VISITOR, YOSHIKO MATSUURA, SAYING: "Most of all, we have come to express our gratitude, and to show them (people who fought in the war) our resolve to build a better Japan." VISITORS ENTERING SHRINE RIGHT WING GROUP MEMBERS DRESSED IN JAPANESE MILITARY UNIFORM MARCHING RIGHT WING GROUP MEMBERS DRESSED IN JAPANESE MILITARY UNIFORM CHATTING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 70-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS CONSULTANT AND SHRINE VISITOR, NOBUO SUGAYA, SAYING: "We obviously need to pray on this day and show appreciation to the spirits of the war dead. It's a responsibility as a Japanese citizen." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 60-YEAR-OLD NURSING CARE CAB DRIVER, KAZUO KAGAYA, SAYING: "It's to commemorate the people that fought for Japan. As descendants, we need to pray to those souls. I think that's quite normal and that's why I come here every year." SHRINE VISITORS WAITING TO RELEASE DOVES VARIOUS OF STAFF HANDING DOVES TO SHRINE VISITORS SHRINE VISITORS HOLDING DOVES DOVES BEING RELEASED INTO THE SKY SHRINE PRIEST AND LAWMAKERS BOWING AND WALKING INTO INNER SHRINE LAWMAKERS WALKING INTO INNER SHRINE SHRINE PRIEST BOWING AND WALKING OUT OF INNER SHRINE / LAWMAKERS DRINKING CUPS AND WALKING OUT VARIOUS OF LAWMAKERS DRINKING CUPS AND WALKING OUT
- Embargoed: 29th August 2019 06:45
- Keywords: World War 2 anniversary Yasukuni Shrine Tokyo Japan
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001ASBUBEV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Japanese people visited Yasukuni Shrine to offer their prayers for war dead on Thursday (August 15) to commemorate the 74th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War 2.
Kou Yoshioka, a 21-year old college student visiting from Nara Prefecture, said he came to the shrine for the first time to pay respect to his great grandfather who died in the war.
Shrine visitors released about 100 doves to symbolize peace; an event held annually on the anniversary of the surrender.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also sent a ritual offering but refrained from visiting in person amid tense ties with South Korea.
Dozens of Japanese lawmakers also visited the shrine to offer their prayers. Past visits by Japanese leaders to Yasukuni have outraged South Korea and China because the shrine honours 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals.
(Production: Yasuteru Uedam, Akiko Okamoto) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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