TOKYO — Authorities in Japan have taken a 64-year-old South Korean citizen into custody on Wednesday after he allegedly disrupted a spring ceremony at Tokyo’s contentious Yasukuni Shrine by displaying protest banners with political statements.
The controversial shrine serves as a memorial for Japan’s 2.5 million military personnel who died in conflicts, including those convicted as war criminals. Nations that suffered under Japanese military actions prior to and throughout World War II, particularly China and South Korea, view official visits to this site as evidence that Japan lacks genuine regret for its wartime conduct.
According to authorities, the detained individual displayed banners containing messages that called on “war criminals” to cease their worship at Yasukuni, while also asserting territorial rights over islands that remain disputed between Japan and South Korea.
Reports from Kyodo News indicate the protester positioned himself near the shrine’s primary entrance and blocked vehicles transporting imperial messengers. These representatives were scheduled to present ceremonial offerings from the emperor, as noted on the shrine’s official website.
The incident occurred one day after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who previously made regular visits to pray at the shrine, chose instead to send a religious ornament for the second consecutive time since becoming Japan’s leader. This decision drew sharp criticism from both Chinese and South Korean officials.
Additionally, on Wednesday, more than 100 conservative legislators, including a Cabinet member, conducted prayers at the shrine.
