TOKYO, Aug 19, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A Tokyo shrine seen as a symbol of Japan's

past militarism reported on Monday a second case of graffiti in three months.

The Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo honours 2.5 million mostly Japanese killed in
wars since the late 19th century, including convicted war criminals.

Officials regularly pay homage at Yasukuni, as did three government ministers
and scores of other lawmakers on the 79th anniversary of Japan's surrender in
World War II on Thursday.

Such visits have angered some of Japan's Asian neighbours and former victims
of its imperialism, especially China and South Korea.

A Yasukuni shrine official confirmed the new case of graffiti to AFP, without
elaborating further.

Footage from public broadcaster NHK showed a stone pillar defaced with
Chinese words meaning: "Dog toilet shit. Militarism go to hell."

In late May, a Chinese man allegedly conspired with two others to spray-paint
the word "toilet" in red on a pillar at the shrine.

Jiang Zhuojun, 29, who lived north of Tokyo, was later arrested "on suspicion
of vandalism and disrespect for a place of worship", Tokyo police said in
July.

Yasukuni also includes a museum that portrays Japan largely as a victim of US
aggression in WWII and makes scant reference to the extreme brutality of
invading Imperial troops when they stormed through Asia.