August 26, 2026

August 15 marked the 81st anniversary of Japan's announcement of unconditional surrender. On that day, a wave of historical revisionism again took center stage in Japanese politics. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not only paid a "tamagushi" ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, but also performed worship from afar in its direction from a location nearby. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and other cabinet ministers, together with the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) top executives, made a rare collective appearance to "pay homage to war criminals," prompting stern protests from China, South Korea and other countries. 

Since taking office, the Takaichi administration has crossed lines with provocations over the Taiwan question and driven Japan headlong down a path of "new-style militarism." Why has the Takaichi administration repeatedly broken through bottom lines? Which forces are pushing it from behind? The Global Times will investigate four major forces working behind the scenes to advance the Takaichi administration's agenda: the Japanese right-wing organization Nippon Kaigi; the military-industrial complex, the administration's behind-the-scenes "financial backer"; the religious-conservative Shinto Association of Spiritual Leadership; and conservative politicians in Japanese politics. 

As one of Japan's largest and most deeply entrenched nationwide conservative-right groups, Nippon Kaigi spans politics, religion, education and local government. It deeply influenced national policy during the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe's two periods in office and is now closely bound to the Takaichi administration, continuing to promote right-wing agendas including constitutional revision, revisionist reinterpretations of history and military expansion. As the first article in this series, this piece focuses on exposing Nippon Kaigi.

Read more:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1369112.shtml