Takaichi to Skip Yasukuni Visit during Spring Festival

Tokyo, April 17 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering skipping a visit to war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo during its three-day spring festival that starts Tuesday, informed sources said Friday. Takaichi had rarely missed visiting the Shinto shrine during its spring and autumn festivals, including while serving as internal affairs minister and in other Cabinet posts. The shrine is regarded by neighboring Asian countries as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism as it honors, along with the nation’s war dead, Class-A war criminals. The prime minister is believed to have taken into account China’s growing opposition to her remarks last year on a Taiwan contingency and improving ties with South Korea under “shuttle diplomacy,” or reciprocal visits by Japanese and South Korean leaders. Takaichi did not visit Yasukuni Shrine during last year’s autumn festival, just before becoming prime minister. At that time, she instead made a “tamagushi” ritual offering to the shrine at her own expense. Takaichi, a prominent conservative in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, indicated her stance on visiting Yasukuni Shrine on a television program after the party’s landslide victory in the House of Representatives election in February. “I will seek understanding from neighboring countries and create an environment to honor the war victims of each country,” she said. An aide to Takaichi said that she would skip the visit in view of relations with South Korea. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference Friday that he will make an appropriate decision on whether to visit the shrine. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who continues visiting the shrine on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, said that he will make an appropriate decision as a private individual. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]