Photo gallery: Tensions high as Japan ministers visit war shrine

Japanese Land and Transport Minister Yuichiro Hata (L) and lawmakers follow a Shinto priest during a visit to the controversial Yasukuni shrine to honour the dead on the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender from World War II, in Tokyo on August 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP

Doves are released in prayer of perpetual peace by worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012. Japan marked the 67th anniversary of its World War II surrender with a somber memorial led by its emperor and other commemorations. -- PHOTO: AP

Japanese veterans and their followers clad in outdated military costume march to pay respects to the nation's war dead at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012.  -- PHOTO: AP

Japanese veterans and their followers clad in outdated military costume march to pay respects to the nation's war dead at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP

Japan's Emperor Akihito (right) delivers a speech next to Empress Michiko before an altar for those who died in World War Two, during a memorial service ceremony marking the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war at Budokan Hall in Tokyo Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Japanese Emperor Akihito (right) and Empress Michiko (left) offer a silent prayer during an annual memorial service to honour the dead on the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender from World War II in Tokyo on Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (lower) walks as Emperor Akihito (top L) and Empress Michiko (top R) look on during an annual memorial service to honour the dead on the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender from World War II in Tokyo on Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP

Visitors enter the main gate of Yasukuni Shrine during a ceremony marking the 67th anniversary of the end of World War II in Tokyo Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP

A veteran dressed in a military uniform, center, accompanied by a man holding a flag of the Rising Sun, a flag of old Japanese army, marches in to pay respects to the nation's war dead at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP

Men dressed as Japanese imperial army soldiers stand at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Aug 15, 2012, on the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

War veterans and others wearing uniforms of the Imperial Navy march at the Yasukuni shrine to honour the dead on the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender from World War II in Tokyo on Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP

A man wearing a Japanese imperial army uniform stands in the shade at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo Aug 15, 2012, on the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Visitors line up to pray at Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial honouring World War II dead, in Tokyo Wednesday, Aug 15 2012, marking the 67th anniversary of its World War II surrender. -- PHOTO: AP

A man stands with a rising-sun flag amongst a crowd of visitors at the Yasukuni shrine to honour the dead on the 67th anniversary of Japan's surrender from World War II in Tokyo on Aug 15, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP