Asia-Pacific

Japan Cabinet ministers to shun Yasukuni Shrine on Aug 15

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-10 14:16

TOKYO - All members of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet said Tuesday they will not visit Yasukuni Shrine on the 65th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender on August 15, local media reported.

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In separate news conferences, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said they will not visit the shrine on Sunday, Kyodo News Agency reported.

Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said at a press conference on Friday that as Class-A war criminals are enshrined there, an official visit by Cabinet members especially the Foreign Minister is not appropriate.

The Yasukuni Shrine, which is located in Tokyo, honors 2.5 million war dead including 14 top war criminals.