People praying silently at Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, at noon on August 15. (©Sankei by Hideyuki Matsui)
With the Sanae Takaichi government in place, focus has returned to Yasukuni Shrine — a site that has long been a flashpoint in Japan's relations with China and South Korea.
On October 17, Takaichi, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), sent a ritual offering during the shrine's three-day Annual Fall Rites but chose not to visit in person.
Takaichi, who regularly paid respects to the shrine, including during her time as economic security minister, refrained from attending as party leader. The decision was likely made to avoid sparking diplomatic tensions with neighboring countries.
Instead, Haruko Arimura, LDP's General Council chair, paid respects on her behalf.
After being elected LDP president earlier this month, Takaichi told reporters, "How I commemorate the dead and pray for peace will be determined in a timely and appropriate manner."
Ministers Face Scrutiny
Attention has also turned to the new Cabinet appointees and their positions on Yasukuni Shrine.
At his inaugural press conference on Wednesday, Shinjiro Koizumi, the new Defense Minister, said, "It's true I have paid respect there every year on the anniversary of the end of the war."
"I visited while serving as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and as Minister of the Environment, but I intend to make an appropriate judgment," he added.
The defense minister did not mention any concrete plans.
Minoru Kihara, now Chief Cabinet Secretary, made an offering at the shrine while serving as defense minister, but has not indicated whether he will do so under the Takaichi administration.
Cross-Party Visits Persist
Meanwhile, over 60 lawmakers from the LDP, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Democratic Party for the People paid their respects during this year's Fall Rites.
Chinese-born lawmaker Seki Hei, who was first elected to the House of Councillors in July, was among those present.
Fumitake Fujita, co-head of the Nippon Ishin no Kai, which recently formed a coalition with the LDP, said on a television program on October 5, "This [Yasukuni visit] should not be made into a diplomatic issue."
"Anyone seriously aiming to become prime minister should go to the shrine every morning — I do so myself."
A Historical Flashpoint
Located in Kudan-kita, Tokyo, Yasukuni Shrine honors some 2.46 million individuals who died in wars from the late Edo period through the Pacific War. Since its founding in 1869, it has long served as a site to commemorate those who gave their lives for the nation.
But the shrine became a source of political and diplomatic controversy after 14 so-called "Class A war criminals" from the Second World War were enshrined in 1978.
When the information became public in the subsequent year, China and South Korea began lodging strong protests, accusing Japan of "honoring war criminals."
Since then, visits by Japanese prime ministers and cabinet ministers have repeatedly ignited tensions with both East Asian countries.
It remains uncertain whether Takaichi will visit the shrine during her tenure as prime minister.
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Author: Kenji Yoshida
