Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Sends Offering to Yasukuni Shrine Amid Diplomatic Sensitivities

Key summary

On October 17, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a memorial offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo to mark the start of its annual autumn festival, which lasts three days. The shrine, located in Chiyoda Ward, commemorates war dead including 14 Class-A war criminals convicted for World War II atrocities, making it a source of long-standing diplomatic friction with neighboring countries such as China and South Korea. According to Kyodo News, Takaichi sent a potted tree called masakaki to perform the ritual in her capacity as prime minister. While she is a conservative politician who regularly visited the shrine during her time as a cabinet minister—including visits during spring and autumn festivals and on August 15, Japan's surrender anniversary—she has not visited since becoming prime minister on October 21 last year. Sources close to Takaichi indicate she is likely to avoid visiting the shrine this festival season despite her conservative background. The shrine remains controversial domestically and internationally due to its association with Japanese militarism and wartime aggression.