Takaichi Offers Tribute at Yasukuni Shrine Enshrining 'War Criminals'... Japanese Government Calls It 'Personal Decision' (Comprehensive)

Former Right-Wing Politician Takaichi Faces First Spring Festival as Prime Minister
China Protests... Referred to as "Regular Shrine Visitor"

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made an offering on April 21 at the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals from the Pacific War are enshrined. However, it was reported that she does not plan to visit the shrine in person, apparently in consideration of anticipated backlash from South Korea and China.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke at a press conference held at the Prime Minister's residence in Tokyo, Japan, on the 15th (local time). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to reports from Kyoto Shimbun, Kyodo News, and NHK on the same day, Prime Minister Takaichi sent a masakaki offering under the title "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi" to mark the start of the Yasukuni Shrine's annual spring festival. Some cabinet members, including Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno, Minister for Disaster Management Jiro Akama, and Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Kiuchi, also participated in the offering.

This year's spring festival at Yasukuni Shrine marks the first major worship period since Prime Minister Takaichi took office. Takaichi, who is known for her right-wing stance, has regularly visited Yasukuni Shrine during the spring and autumn festivals as well as on August 15, the day marking Japan's defeat in World War II, during her political career.

However, it is understood that she will refrain from an in-person visit during this event period to avoid diplomatic issues, such as opposition from South Korea and China, following the precedent set by former Prime Ministers Shigeru Ishiba and Fumio Kishida, who only made offerings without visiting the shrine.

The Japanese government cautioned against overinterpretation. At a press conference on the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara responded to questions about Prime Minister Takaichi's decision to only make an offering by saying, "I understand this is a personal decision," and added, "It is not a matter on which the government should comment."

China immediately expressed its opposition. The Chinese People's Liberation Army's social network account "Junzhengping" stated, "These repeated actions by Japanese politicians distort history and attempt to cover up war crimes," adding, "This 'regular shrine visitor' (referring to Prime Minister Takaichi) has once again carried out a political provocation with malicious intent." The account further noted, "Such actions undermine the postwar international order and heighten regional tensions."

The Yasukuni Shrine commemorates the spirits of more than 2,466,000 people who died in civil wars in Japan after the Meiji Restoration and in numerous wars initiated by Imperial Japan. In particular, Class-A war criminals from the Pacific War, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who were executed following the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trials), are enshrined there.

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