By Shannon Tiezzi
The suspect has both admitted and denied planting explosives at the controversial shrine honoring Japan’s war dead.
On November 23, an explosion occurred in a public restroom at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Police found evidence that a bomb had been planted at the site, and opened an investigation into the explosion as a targeted attack – and potentially an “act of terror,” as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga put it. No one was injured, despite reports that attendance at the shrine was higher than normal due to an annual harvest festival.
After the explosion, police found a digital timer, batteries (with Hangul characters on them), and pipes filled with gunpowder in the bathroom. Some sources say the homemade bomb did not function properly, resulting in limited damage.
Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to honoring Japan’s war dead – including (controversially) 14 military officers and political officials designed as “Class A” war criminals by the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal. As such, the shrine has become a flashpoint in Northeast Asia’s history debates, with Beijing and Seoul protesting vehemently each time a Japanese politician visits or sends gifts to the shrine. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the shrine in December 2013, sparking angry reactions in China and South Korea.
Earlier this month, Japanese media reported that the investigation into the bombing was focused on a Korean suspect, surnamed Chon and aged 27. Chon was reportedly seen walking around the shrine just before and after the blast; media reports also indicated his DNA was found in the bathroom where the explosive was planted. There is no evidence linking Chon to any political organizations or groups.
Read the full story at The Diplomat