The Korean government immediately criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for offering tributes on the first day of the Yasukuni Shrine’s spring festival yesterday, but she subsequently made an additional personal offering the next day.
According to Kyodo News and NHK, Prime Minister Takaichi offered a personal payment for the “Tamagushi”, a type of offering, through General Affairs Chairperson Haruko Arimura, who visited Yasukuni Shrine today (22nd).
After visiting, Chairperson Arimura informed the press about Takaichi’s offering and stated, “I worshiped with the heart of Prime Minister Takaichi. She certainly has the intention to visit someday.”
On the first day of the Yasukuni Shrine’s spring grand festival, Prime Minister Takaichi postponed her visit and instead offered a “Masakaki” under the title “On behalf of the Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi.”
In response, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a spokesperson’s commentary, criticizing the repeated offerings and visits by responsible Japanese leaders to the Yasukuni Shrine, which they say glorifies Japan’s past aggression and enshrines war criminals. The ministry expressed deep disappointment and regret.
On the second day of the spring grand festival, Minor Economic Revitalization Minister Minoru Kiuchi visited Yasukuni Shrine. This was the first instance of a cabinet member visiting since the establishment of the Takaichi Cabinet in October last year.
On the first day of the festival, Ministers Kenichiro Ueno of Health and Labor and Jiro Akama of Disaster Management only made offerings without visiting the shrine.
After his visit, Minister Kiuchi expressed to reporters his respect and gratitude for those who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Although not cabinet members, Deputy Minister Tsushima Jun and Deputy Minister Noriko Horiuchi also visited the shrine.
Approximately 120 members from the nonpartisan parliamentary group that regularly visits Yasukuni Shrine attended as a group.
Yasukuni Shrine honors over 2.466 million people who died in domestic conflicts and wars initiated by Japan before and after the Meiji Restoration. Nearly 90% of those enshrined, about 2.133 million individuals, were related to the Pacific War, including Class-A war criminals such as former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who were executed following the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trials).
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