- Title: Japanese visit controversial shrine on WW2 anniversary
- Date: 15th August 2021
- Summary: VISITORS HOLDING UMBRELLA QUEUING IN RAIN VISITORS STANDING ON MARKS ON GROUND TO KEEP DISTANCE WITH EACH OTHER VISITORS QUEUING GIRL STANDING WITH UMBRELLA (SOUNDBITE) 38-YEAR-OLD VISITOR, MITSUGU OSHIRO, SAYING: "There are many people around me who have experienced wars, so after hearing their stories I really wanted to come." VARIOUS OF VISITORS OBSERVING MOMENT OF SILENCE AT NOON RAINWATER FLOWING DOWN FROM ROOF RIGHT-WING GROUP MEMBERS CLAPPING HANDS AND PAYING RESPECT IN FRONT OF SHRINE RIGHT-WING GROUP MEMBERS WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) 39-YEAR-OLD VISITOR, FUMIHITO SUZUKI, SAYING: "Today is the anniversary of the end of the World War II, so I want to come here to express my gratitude to the spirits of the war dead. My grandfather also went the war. Although he didn't die during the war, his friends did. So I wanted to come and visit here once." DOVES IN BOXES / STAFF AND VISITORS STANDING IN RAIN DOVES VARIOUS OF DOVES BEING RELEASED VISITORS TAKING PHOTOS RIGHT-WING GROUP MEMBERS SITTING ON BENCH AND RESTING
- Embargoed: 29th August 2021 10:55
- Keywords: Japan Tokyo WW2 anniversary controversial shrine former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA003EQE2FD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Japanese residents and politicians, braved the pouring rain to pay their respects at Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday (August 15), the 76th anniversary of Japan's surrender which ended World War Two.
Despite persistent rain and daily new coronavirus cases rising above 5,000 in the past two days, the shrine saw a constant stream of visitors from early morning, including families with children and people in military uniform.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sent a ritual offering to the shrine for war dead, which also honours some convicted war criminals, but avoided a personal visit. Yet visits to the controversial Yasukuni shrine by members of Suga's cabinet as well as the former prime minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday were likely to anger China and both Koreas.
After visiting on Sunday the former prime minister, who is still a member of parliament, told reporters he paid his respect to the souls of the war dead. Abe visited Yasukuni as prime minister in 2013, sparking outrage from Beijing and Seoul and an expression of "disappointment" from the United States. He did not go again as prime minister, sending ritual offerings instead.
Yasukuni honours the war dead, including 14 World War Two leaders convicted as "Class A" war criminals, making it a flashpoint for tension. Koreans still chafe over Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945, while Chinese have bitter memories of Japan's invasion and brutal occupation of parts of China from 1931 to 1945.
(Production: Irene Wang) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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