Sanae Takaichi Offers a Tribute to Yasukuni Shrine... Visit Still Uncertain

[Financial News] Sanae Takaichi, who took office as Japan's prime minister in October last year, sent a tribute to Yasukuni Shrine's major annual event for the first time since becoming prime minister. Amid recent diplomatic friction with China and other neighboring countries, Takaichi is expected to skip the event in person, unlike her earlier pledge.
According to Japanese media outlets including Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Takaichi offered a ritual tree called a "masakaki" to Yasukuni Shrine on the 21st under the name "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi."
Located in Tokyo, Yasukuni Shrine maintains the tablets of about 2.133 million people linked to the Pacific War, including many Class-A war criminals. Takaichi, who is aligned with the conservative camp, has long made it a point to visit the shrine during its major spring and autumn festivals and on Aug. 15, Japan's surrender day.
During the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential race in 2024, she promised that she would visit Yasukuni Shrine if she became prime minister. This year's spring festival runs from the 21st to the 23rd.
However, as she moved closer to the prime minister's office, she appeared to exercise restraint. Takaichi did not visit the shrine in person during the autumn festival held just before she took office in October last year. Instead, she paid for the tribute out of her own pocket.
Earlier, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference on the 17th that whether Takaichi would visit Yasukuni Shrine this month was something "the prime minister herself will decide appropriately." On the same day, JIJI PRESS reported, citing a source, that "Takaichi has begun coordinating in a way that would put off the visit." It added that the move appeared to take South Korea and China into account. Kyodo News also reported that "there are views within the government that she will hold off to avoid diplomatic problems," adding that "like previous prime ministers, she may offer a tribute instead of visiting."


pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter