China Blasts Japanese Officials' Visit to Yasukuni Shrine on WWII Anniversary The recent visit by Japanese officials to the Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of World War II has reignited tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.
The shrine, dedicated to Japan's war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals enshrined as "national heroes," is a contentious symbol of Japan's militaristic past.
Historically, Japan's treatment of its military leaders after the war has been characterized by an almost absurd level of reverence for its wartime leaders.