Abe Offers Tribute at Yasukuni Shrine... Unable to Visit Due to COVID-19 (Update)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered tribute again this year in line with the spring festival at Yasukuni Shrine, following last year. The annual visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese right-wing politicians, which had been a regular event, were reportedly completely canceled due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to Japan's Jiji Press, on the 21st, Prime Minister Abe offered tribute in the name of "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe" in accordance with the spring festival, the Chunkye Ye Daeje, held at Yasukuni Shrine from the 21st to the 22nd. Since visiting Yasukuni Shrine in December 2013, Abe has faced strong opposition from neighboring countries such as South Korea and China, and since then, he has not visited in person but has annually offered tribute in his name during the spring and autumn festivals.

Japanese right-wing politicians who used to flock to Yasukuni Shrine for the annual events have largely canceled their visits due to COVID-19 prevention measures. According to Kyodo News, the bipartisan parliamentary group in Japan called the "Parliamentary Group Visiting Yasukuni Shrine Together" has completely canceled their plan to visit Yasukuni Shrine for this year's Chunkye Ye Daeje. A representative of the group cited COVID-19 prevention issues as the reason for the cancellation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.