Japanese defense minister not to visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug.15 anniversary
Source: Xinhua   2016-08-12 23:39:06

TOKYO, Aug.12 (Xinhua) -- Japan's newly appointed Defense Minister Tomomi Inada will visit Djibouti in Africa on a four-day trip from Saturday, which will prevent her from visiting the notorious Yasukuni Shrine on the 71st anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug.15, the defense ministry said on Friday.

Her trip aims to encourage Self-Defense Forces members who are engaged in an antipiracy mission off Somalia, according to the ministry.

Inada, known for a close ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a supporter of revamping Japan's pacifist constitution, regularly visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II before assuming the post of defense minister last week following Abe's cabinet reshuffle on Aug.3.

So far, one minister of Abe's cabinet has visited the shrine since last week's cabinet reshuffle. New reconstruction minister Masahiro Imamura on Thursday visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors millions of war dead as well as 14 convicted Class-A war criminals of World War II.

Yasukuni Shrine is regarded as a symbol of the past Japanese militarism. Visits to the infamous shrine by Japanese leaders and officials have sparked strong criticism from it neighbors and other Asian countries.

Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Japanese defense minister not to visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug.15 anniversary

Source: Xinhua 2016-08-12 23:39:06
[Editor: huaxia]

TOKYO, Aug.12 (Xinhua) -- Japan's newly appointed Defense Minister Tomomi Inada will visit Djibouti in Africa on a four-day trip from Saturday, which will prevent her from visiting the notorious Yasukuni Shrine on the 71st anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug.15, the defense ministry said on Friday.

Her trip aims to encourage Self-Defense Forces members who are engaged in an antipiracy mission off Somalia, according to the ministry.

Inada, known for a close ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a supporter of revamping Japan's pacifist constitution, regularly visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II before assuming the post of defense minister last week following Abe's cabinet reshuffle on Aug.3.

So far, one minister of Abe's cabinet has visited the shrine since last week's cabinet reshuffle. New reconstruction minister Masahiro Imamura on Thursday visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors millions of war dead as well as 14 convicted Class-A war criminals of World War II.

Yasukuni Shrine is regarded as a symbol of the past Japanese militarism. Visits to the infamous shrine by Japanese leaders and officials have sparked strong criticism from it neighbors and other Asian countries.

[Editor: huaxia]
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