Graffiti Incident at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine

Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a site memorializing Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals, has been vandalized for the second time in three months with graffiti containing Chinese characters for 'toilet.' The latest incident occurred on August 19, where a staff member discovered the defacement at around 3:50 a.m. This follows a similar act in May, which led to the arrest of a Chinese man and the issuance of warrants for two others who fled Japan. The shrine has historically drawn ire from neighboring countries, particularly China and South Korea, due to its association with Japan's militaristic past. The police are investigating the recent graffiti under property damage and desecration laws, as such acts further exacerbate diplomatic tensions in the region. Yasukuni Shrine also includes a museum that presents a controversial narrative of Japan's wartime actions.