What is the 'Masakaki' offering that Japanese Prime Minister Suga dedicated to Yasukuni?

Yasukuni Shrine
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunbyeol Kim] On the 17th, when Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attended the autumn grand festival (Chukei Yetae) at Yasukuni Shrine for the first time since his inauguration, attention was drawn to the 'Masakaki' offering he presented as a tribute.

Prime Minister Suga took office pledging to fully succeed former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This offering is seen as a message indicating that he intends to follow Abe's policy line regarding the Yasukuni Shrine issue. Previously, while serving as Chief Cabinet Secretary, Suga neither visited Yasukuni Shrine nor sent offerings.

The official name of the Masakaki that Prime Minister Suga offered is 'Sakaki,' an evergreen tree (a type of broadleaf evergreen) dedicated to the sacred altar or shrine.

However, since Sakaki is a temperate species, it does not grow well in regions north of Kanto, including Tokyo, so a similar species called 'Hisakaki' is often used as a substitute. To distinguish it from 'Hisakaki,' Sakaki is commonly referred to as 'Masakaki' (true Sakaki).

Sakaki, mainly planted within shrine precincts, has been used as a ritual item in Japan since ancient times.

Masakaki, commonly seen in Japanese gardens, can be purchased online for about 3,000 to 4,000 yen (approximately 33,000 to 44,000 won) for a height of about 30 cm.

The Masakaki offerings that Abe presented to Yasukuni during his tenure as prime minister are known to have cost about 50,000 yen (approximately 550,000 won).