Tokyo, Oct. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi refrained from visiting war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo during its three-day autumn festival, which ended Monday. Takaichi, however, offered a “masakaki” ritual tree stand to the Shinto shrine in her capacity as prime minister Saturday and a ritual monetary offering as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday. During the festival, three Takaichi cabinet ministers visited the shrine. Growth strategy minister Minoru Kiuchi paid a visit Saturday, followed by Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tatsunori Ibayashi and Environment Minister Hiroyoshi Sasagawa on Monday. Ibayashi paid the visit as a member of a suprapartisan group of lawmakers promoting visits to the shrine, which is regarded by countries such as China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism as it honors Class-A war criminals along with the war dead. From the group, about 70 lawmakers, including those of the LDP, its Japan Innovation Party ally, the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito, visited the shrine. LDP General Council chairman Hiroshi Kajiyama, LDP Election Strategy Committee chairman Yasutoshi Nishimura and Conservative Party of Japan head Naoki Hyakuta also paid visits. Takaichi’s cash offering was made by Kajiyama on her behalf. Takaichi has traditionally visited the shrine during its spring or autumn festivals and on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, including during her tenure as a cabinet minister. But she stopped short of visiting the shrine during its autumn festival in October 2025, just before taking office as prime minister, and has continued to do so since then, apparently in consideration of diplomatic relations with China and South Korea. Japan’s ties with China have been strained due in part to her parliamentary remarks last November over a possible Taiwan contingency, while relations with South Korea are improving. China criticized Takaichi’s ritual offerings and other Japanese politicians’ visits to Yasukuni Shrine during the latest autumn festival. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press conference Monday that the Chinese government “firmly opposes and strongly condemns the negative moves of Japan, and has lodged serious and strong protests with the Japanese side.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
