August 15th is an important day in Japan, too, of course,... as the anniversary of its defeat by the Allies in World War Two and the loss of its empire.
Earlier today, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine... to honor the war dead.
Abe didn't go in person, but sent the offering with his special adviser Masahiko Shibayama.
The shrine is controversial because it also honors Class A war criminals.
Paying tribute there is seen in Korea and China as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, but Abe has sent an offering every year since he took office in 2012.
The South Korean foreign ministry today expressed "deep concerns" over the leaders of the Japanese government and parliament paying tribute to a shrine that glorifies Japan's history of aggression.
