Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering skipping a visit to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo during its three-day spring festival that starts Tuesday, informed sources said Friday.
Takaichi has rarely missed visiting the Shinto shrine during its spring and autumn festivals, including while serving as internal affairs minister and in other Cabinet posts.
The shrine is regarded by neighboring Asian countries as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism as it honors Class-A war criminals, along with millions of war dead.
The prime minister is believed to have taken the decision due to China’s growing opposition to her remarks last year on a Taiwan contingency and improving ties with South Korea under “shuttle diplomacy,” or reciprocal visits by Japanese and South Korean leaders.
Takaichi did not visit Yasukuni Shrine during last year’s autumn festival, just before becoming prime minister. At that time, she instead made a “tamagushi” ritual offering to the shrine at her own expense.
Takaichi, part of the conservative wing in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, indicated her stance on visiting Yasukuni Shrine on a television program after the party’s landslide victory in the House of Representatives election in February. “I will seek understanding from neighboring countries and create an environment to honor the war victims of each country,” she said.
An aide to Takaichi said that she would skip the visit in view of relations with South Korea.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a news conference Friday that he will make an appropriate decision on whether to visit the shrine.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who has regularly visited the shrine on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, said that he will make an appropriate decision as a private individual.
