- Title: Japan pledges not to wage war again as ministers visit controversial shrine
- Date: 15th August 2021
- Summary: SUGA OFFERING FLOWER ON ALTAR AND BOWING VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS OFFERING FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR CEREMONY IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 29th August 2021 08:35
- Keywords: Emperor Naruhito Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tokyo WW2 ceremony
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002EQE2DS7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged on Sunday (August 15) that the country would not wage war again, making the vow on the anniversary of the end of World War Two as members of his cabinet visited a controversial shrine.
Nearly eight decades since the end of the war, the conflict remains a source of tension between Japan and its neighbours, particularly China and North and South Korea.
"We must never again repeat the devastation of war. We will continue to remain committed to this conviction," Suga said in a speech at a memorial ceremony in Tokyo.
His comments were little changed from those of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, at last year's ceremony, and were echoed by Emperor Naruhito who expressed "deep remorse" for Japan's wartime past, as he has previously done. Yet visits to the controversial Yasukuni shrine by members of Suga's cabinet as well as Abe on Sunday were likely to anger China and both Koreas. The shrine saw a constant stream of visitors from early morning, including families with children and people in military uniform, despite persistent rain and the recent spike in coronavirus cases.
Yasukuni honours the war dead, including 14 World War Two leaders convicted as "Class A" war criminals, making it a flashpoint for tension.
(Production: Akira Tomoshige, Irene Wang) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
