Despite the strong protest of Asian countries the Japanese reactionaries justified the visits, claiming that "it is natural to pay respects for those who laid down their lives for the sake of the country".

Minju Joson Tuesday observes in a commentary in this regard:

This is an insult to humankind and challenge to justice.

The important aim sought by the Japanese reactionaries through visits to the shrine is to paint the war dead allegedly "honored" by the shrine as "patriots" and bring back their souls in a bid to facilitate the moves for militarizing society and making it veer to the Right and turning it reactionary.

The issue of the visit to the shrine is a crucial matter not only related to the peace in Asia but to the fate of Japan, the commentary notes, and goes on:

Japan is again taking the road of veering to the Right, oblivious of the lesson drawn from its past days. This situation today calls on the politicians and people of Japan to come to their senses.

Japan should not rush headlong into the veer to the Right for militarism but opt for settling its past.

The Japanese reactionaries had better behave themselves, bearing in mind that there would be no future for not only the present Japanese regime but Japan unless it liquidates its past.