All papers reported that no Abe cabinet ministers paid homage at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, noting that this was the first time since 1980 that no cabinet officials of an LDP administration visited the Shinto memorial on the anniversary of Japan’s defeat in WWII. Nikkei attributed the absence of Abe cabinet ministers this year to its consideration for China and South Korea, whose cooperation has become increasingly important in dealing with the DPRK’s provocations.