Yasukuni's ghost: Japan's self-inflicted wound

On the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stopped short of visiting Yasukuni Shrine in person, instead laying flowers at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery and attending the national war memorial ceremony.

But she sent a proxy to offer sacrificial tributes at the shrine, which honors WWII Class-A war criminals, while several cabinet ministers visited the site themselves.

The move triggered sharp reactions across East Asia.

South Korea condemned it as an affront to the historical sentiments of war victims and a blow to bilateral trust.

The DPRK warned that Japan’s historical revisionism points to a resurgence of militarism that threatens security in Northeast Asia.

Russia also criticized what it called Japan’s double standards on historical issues, saying its revisionist stance and military buildup pose a threat to strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific.

Our reporter Zhou Jiaxin examines the political impact of this year’s Yasukuni observance.