Japanese actor Kishi Da donates offerings to Yasukuni Shrine... Seogyeongdeok criticizes as "act of endorsing invasion war"

"Yasukuni Shrine Enshrines 14 Class A War Criminals from the Pacific War"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida offered tribute at Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals are enshrined, drawing criticism from Professor Seokyeongdeok of Sungshin Women's University, who called it "an act of endorsing Japan's past aggressive wars."

According to Kyodo News on the 17th, Prime Minister Kishida offered a 'masakaki' at the Yasukuni Autumn Grand Festival (Reitaisai) under the name of 'Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.'

Masakaki is a potted evergreen tree offered at shrine altars. Since taking office in 2021, Kishida has not visited Yasukuni Shrine in person during the Autumn Grand Festival but has instead offered tributes. It is known that he will not visit in person during this year's festival, held from the 17th to the 19th.

Japanese members of parliament are moving after praying for the war dead at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals from World War II are enshrined, on the 15th. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida did not visit the shrine in person but offered a tribute on the morning of Japan's defeat anniversary.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Professor Seokyeongdeok stated on social media that "Yasukuni Shrine is a facility that honors the spirits of those who died in Japan's large and small aggressive wars, and especially enshrines 14 Class-A war criminals from the Pacific War, including Hideki Tojo."

He also criticized Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura's recent visit to Yasukuni Shrine, calling it "a disregard for neighboring countries such as Korea and China."

He added, "The Autumn Grand Festival will be held from today until the 19th. We need to closely watch what actions Japanese politicians will take."

Meanwhile, the government expressed regret over the tribute offering at Yasukuni Shrine. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-seok said at a regular briefing, "The government expresses deep disappointment and regret over the repeated offerings and visits by responsible Japanese leaders to Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's past aggressive wars and enshrines war criminals."

Spokesperson Lim urged, "We call on responsible Japanese leaders to face history, show humble reflection on the past, and demonstrate genuine remorse through their actions. Our government will monitor and respond to the visits and tribute offerings by key Japanese figures during the Autumn Grand Festival period."