Kishida Offers Tribute at Yasukuni Shrine

Pacific War Class A War Criminals Enshrined at Yasukuni
On the Previous Day, Minister Nishimura Keisan Personally Paid Respects

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida offered a tribute at Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals from the Pacific War are enshrined.

On the 17th, Kyodo News reported that Prime Minister Kishida donated a "masakaki" in the name of "Prime Minister Fumio Kishida" for the Yasukuni Autumn Grand Festival (Reitaisai), which began that day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Masakaki is a wooden offering presented at shrine altars, and at Yasukuni Shrine, it can only be offered during the annual Spring and Autumn Grand Festivals, giving it significant meaning. Prime Minister Kishida also offered a masakaki as a tribute at last year's Autumn Grand Festival.

However, Kyodo News reported that he did not visit the shrine to pay respects this time either. Since assuming office in October 2021, he has not visited the shrine during the Spring and Autumn Grand Festivals.

The day before, among the cabinet members, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura personally visited Yasukuni Shrine to pay respects and paid the cost for the "tamagushi" (玉串), a white paper offering attached to a branch and presented at the shrine.

After the visit, he told reporters, "While praying for the peace of the spirits, I pledged to devote myself to Japan's peace and prosperity." Minister Nishimura also visited Yasukuni Shrine to pay respects the day before the Grand Festival last October.

However, since there are both supporters and opponents of visits to Yasukuni Shrine within Japan, some criticism has arisen regarding this visit and the offering of tributes. Nevertheless, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno drew a line during a press conference the day before, stating, "It is a matter for the Prime Minister to judge appropriately."