Ministry of Foreign Affairs Calls for “Genuine Reflection on the Past”,
A tribute offered by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is placed at Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine on the 17th. Prime Minister Ishiba is not expected to visit during the Autumn Festival, which runs until the 19th. Tokyo/Kyodo Yonhap News,
, ‘In response to the offering of a tribute to the Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class A war criminals from the Pacific War, by Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the 17th, the government expressed “disappointment and regret” and called for “genuine reflection on the past.”’,
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, ‘In a commentary by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government stated, “We express deep disappointment and regret over the repeated offerings and visits to Yasukuni Shrine by responsible leaders of Japan, as the shrine glorifies Japan’s past aggression and enshrines war criminals.” The commentary continued, “Our government urges responsible leaders of Japan’s new cabinet to face history and demonstrate humble reflection and genuine repentance concerning the past through actions, emphasizing this as an important foundation to build future-oriented Korea-Japan relations based on mutual trust.”’,
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, ‘Prime Minister Ishiba made an offering known as “masakaki” under the name “Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba” to the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo, on the 17th, coinciding with the Autumn Festival, according to reports by Kyodo News and other Japanese media.’,
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, ‘Earlier, he had stated that he did not plan to visit the shrine during the festival, which ends on the 19th. The situation regarding visits by ministers of the newly inaugurated Ishiba government remains to be observed. On the day the tribute was offered, Hidehisa Otsuji, President of the House of Councillors, and Takamaro Fukuoka, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, were also involved. However, the lawmakers’ federation “Group of Together Visiting Yasukuni Shrine” announced that due to the ongoing campaign period for the lower house election on the 27th, their collective visit would be postponed.’,
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, ‘Yasukuni Shrine is a facility where Japan venerates the spirits of approximately 2.47 million individuals who died for the emperor in various internal conflicts and subsequent wars of aggression since the Meiji Restoration around 1867. Around 90% are connected to Japan’s Pacific War, and since 1978, it has included 14 Class A war criminals from the Pacific War.’,
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, ‘The last time a sitting Japanese Prime Minister visited Yasukuni Shrine was in December 2013 by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Since then, Japanese prime ministers have refrained from visiting for over 10 years, opting instead to send offerings. Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also sent offerings nine times during his term.’
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