Nakasone broke the taboo by being the first prime minister to worship at the Yasukuni shrine in his official capacity on August 15, 1985, the fortieth anniversary of the end of World War II. The decision triggered a severe response from China, where students held demonstrations against his visit.
1985年8月15日、第二次世界大战结束40周年纪念日那天，中曾根康弘打破禁忌成为了第一位在职期间参拜靖国神社的首相。这个决定激起了中国强烈的反应，学生对他的参拜举行示威游行。双边关系被冻结。