Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi prayed at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday, a site seen by Japan's Asian neighbors as a symbol of the country's past militarism. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Koizumi has often been at the controversial shrine. The shrine also commemorates World War II criminals, and visits by Japanese politicians have been criticized by China and South Korea, who see them as a lack of remorse over Japan's wartime atrocities.
Koizumi has regularly made annual shrine visits marking Japan's anniversary of the end of the war on Aug. 15 and other occasions.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, also a regular at the shrine, is expected to stay away to prioritize diplomatic ties with neighboring countries.