Politics PM Kishida sends offering to Yasukuni

[thomas]

I'm curious to see how angrily China and Japan's new-found friend, South Korea, will react to Mr Kishida's "offering". Also, I am unsurprised that a Nazi sympathiser like Mrs Takaichi should visit there in person.

Here's the spirit:

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, seen by some as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, as the nation marked the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II, a ruling lawmaker said. Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, meanwhile, visited the Shinto shrine, marking the fourth consecutive year that a Cabinet member has offered prayers at Yasukuni on the anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war. Kishida sent the "masakaki" offering to the shrine, a source of diplomatic tension with China and South Korea. The prime minister, who heads a dovish faction within the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is likely to eschew an in-person visit as he has done previously.

Japan PM Kishida sends offering to Yasukuni shrine on WWII anniv.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Aug. 15 sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, seen by some as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, as the nation marked the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II, a ruling lawmaker said.

english.kyodonews.net

 

[thomas]

In a move to appease the right-wing in his party, PM Kishida made a ritual spring offering at the Yasukuni Shrine, donating "masakaki" (真榊) evergreen twigs to the shrine on April 21, which marked the first day of its spring festival. Since taking office in 2021, Kishida has consistently offered masakaki during spring and autumn festivals but has chosen not to visit the facility in person.

Lower House Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga and Upper House President Hidehisa Otsuji also offered masakaki. Yoshitaka Shindo, minister in charge of economic revitalization, visited the shrine on April 21. "I paid a visit out of reverence and respect for the souls of those who worked for the country with all their might in the past," he said.

Kishida sends spring offering to war-related Yasukuni shrine | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

South Korea expressed "deep disappointment and regret" Sunday over Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sending a ritual offering to a war shrine seen as a symbol of Japan's militaristic past.

S. Korea voices deep regret over Japanese PM's offering to Yasukuni Shrine | Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea expressed "deep disappointment and regret&quo...

en.yna.co.kr