Japan's Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on April 11. Commenting on the visit, he told Kyodo News Service "I did it as a private matter which I am free to decide." Shindo had visited the shrine last April, on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, in October and on New Year's Day. This visit occurred before the annual Spring Festival from April 21-23, 2014.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to refrain from visiting the Ysukuni Shrine  ahead of a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama on April 24 in Tokyo.