Takaichi sends Yasukuni offering under prime ministerial title
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual tree to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine at the start of its autumn festival. She is expected to refrain from visiting during the three-day ceremony. The shrine honours Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals, and visits by political leaders have drawn objections from neighbouring countries.
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Ritual tree sent with the prime minister’s name
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a masakaki ritual tree to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on 17 October under her title as prime minister. She is expected to refrain from visiting the shrine during its autumn festival, which runs until 19 October.[1], [2]
Yasukuni commemorates people who died in Japan’s civil conflicts and wars, including convicted major war criminals such as wartime prime minister Hideki Tojo. Kyodo interpreted Takaichi’s decision to avoid a visit in terms of diplomatic relations with South Korea and China.[1]
Earlier festival visits stopped before her premiership
Before becoming leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party last October, Takaichi regularly visited during the spring and autumn festivals and on the anniversary of Japan’s Second World War surrender. She stayed away from the autumn festival after becoming party leader and from the spring festival held during her premiership. On 15 August this year, she sent a ritual fee from her own funds and bowed towards the shrine from a distance.[1]
Ministers visit and parliamentary leaders send offerings
Economic and fiscal policy minister Minoru Kiuchi visited the shrine and said he paid the ritual fee himself. Party policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi also visited. Lower-house speaker Eisuke Mori, upper-house president Masakazu Sekiguchi and health minister Kenichiro Ueno sent offerings. A cross-party group of lawmakers is scheduled to visit on 19 October. Takaichi’s aides declined to say whether she bowed towards the shrine again on 17 October.[1]
