Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine during its spring festival. The shrine, situated in central Tokyo, has been a point of contention between Japan and its neighboring countries. Visits and offerings to this shrine by Japanese officials have often sparked criticism and opposition, particularly from China and South Korea.
Takaichi’s gesture comes at a time when no sitting prime minister has visited the shrine since 2013, when Shinzo Abe’s visit drew widespread backlash. Despite this, Takaichi, after her recent election victory, hinted at the possibility of breaking this tradition. The Yasukuni Shrine, originally built to honor those who died in Japan’s civil war, has a complex history intertwined with the country’s modernization and militarism.
The shrine, now known as Yasukuni, houses 2.47 million “divinities” who are said to have sacrificed their lives for their nation. Among them, 2.13 million are linked to Japan’s actions in World War II. The shrine claims to honor all individuals equally, regardless of their background, as venerable divinities.
