Japan Innovation Party Leader: "Visits to Yasukuni Shrine Are Only Natural for Lawmakers"

On October 22, the leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a hardline conservative party that has become the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, stated that it is only natural for members of the National Diet to pay their respects at Yasukuni Shrine.

Yoshimura Hirofumi, leader of the Japan Innovation Party. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

According to major foreign media outlets such as the Mainichi Shimbun, Yoshimura Hirofumi, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, said at a press conference that day regarding visits to Yasukuni Shrine, "As a member of the National Diet, it is only natural to offer respect to the spirits who gave their lives to protect the nation and their families."

He added, "How one expresses this respect is up to each member's judgment," and stated, "I respect Prime Minister Takaiichi Sanae's decision."

It is reported that Yoshimura's remarks were made in the context of Prime Minister Takaiichi, who was inaugurated the previous day, having visited Yasukuni Shrine before becoming the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Komeito, which ended its 26-year partnership with the Liberal Democratic Party on October 10, had requested that Prime Minister Takaiichi refrain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine before leaving the coalition.

After being elected as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Takaiichi, instead of personally visiting the shrine, offered a ritual offering during the autumn festival at Yasukuni Shrine from October 17 to 19. Analysts believe this was a measure taken in consideration of next week's diplomatic schedule, including U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Japan and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju.

Yasukuni Shrine commemorates the spirits of approximately 2,466,000 people who died in civil wars during and after the Meiji Restoration and in the many wars waged by Imperial Japan. Among those enshrined are also Class A war criminals from the Pacific War.

The Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party agreed on October 20 to form a coalition government and to pursue constitutional revision for peace and the strengthening of defense capabilities.