Latest News

A South Korean national was arrested by Japanese police on Wednesday after holding a banner to stage a protest during the annual Spring Rites at the Tokyo's notorious Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals from WWII are enshrined, but he said "I did what I wanted to do," according to media reports.

The 64-year-old man, who claims to be unemployed, was on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business, and he has admitted to the allegations of the obstruction and made the remarks, according to Japanese media outlets Jiji Press.

At around 11 am on Wednesday, near the shrine's gate, he displayed a banner reading "Stop paying visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines war criminals," the report noted. 

The man stood at the main shrine gate and in front of vehicles carrying messengers from the Japanese emperor, AP reported citing Kyodo News Agency. The messengers were scheduled to deliver offerings from the emperor, per the report.

The man is believed to reside in South Korea and had entered Japan on April 20, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

South Korean media outlets also reported on this incident. The Chosun Daily reported that Class-A war criminals of the Pacific War, including Hideki Tojo who was executed following the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, are honored there. Another media outlet Yonhap News Agency pointed out that the Yasukuni Shrine is a facility that serves as a symbol of Japanese militarism.

The notorious Yasukuni Shrine kicked off its three-day annual Spring Rites on Tuesday.

One day before, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday made a monetary offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, after she sent a ritual offering on Tuesday to the shrine in the name of "prime minister."

Both Chinese and South Korean foreign ministries have voiced opposition over Takaichi's move. A spokesperson for South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday called on Japan to take action through "humble" reflection of the past that would support future-oriented ties, according to The Mainichi.

Global Times