At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Kihara stated that the Ministry of Defense's internal circular banning members of the Self-Defense Forces from visiting religious sites is an old one that was drawn up approximately 50 years ago, and that the Ministry of Defense has issued a new directive that prohibits Self-Defense Forces from visiting religious sites. I have indicated my intention to revise it.
Three executives, including the vice chief of the Ground Staff, who is number two in the Ground Staff Office, took leave to visit Yasukuni Shrine on the 9th of this month, and because they were traveling in official vehicles, the Ministry of Defense announced that the Although he was given a reprimand based on the date, it was determined that visiting a religious facility as a unit or organization, which is prohibited by an internal notification, did not constitute a violation.
In relation to this, Minister of Defense Kihara said at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 30th, ``We have received reports that this does not violate the current circular that prohibits military visits to shrines and the forced participation of military personnel.'' I understand the content," he said.
Regarding the internal notification, he said, ``It is a very old one that was formulated about 50 years ago, and since then, there have been several Supreme Court precedents regarding religious freedom and the separation of church and state. I think it is necessary to make revisions."