Sanae Takaichi offers to Yasukuni Shrine for Spring Grand Festival, refrains from personal visit to avoid backlash from China and South Korea
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offered "Masakaki" to Yasukuni Shrine for the Spring Grand Festival but refrained from a personal visit, reportedly to avoid provoking China and South Korea and to mitigate diplomatic disputes. Other cabinet members also made offerings.
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- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 11:20
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Dai Yazhen, Tokyo 21st exclusive report) Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi today, in conjunction with the Spring Grand Festival, offered "Masakaki" to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo under the name of "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi." Sources revealed that Takaichi is confirmed not to personally visit during the Spring Festival. Japanese media pointed out that this move is intended to avoid irritating China and South Korea and to reduce the possibility of diplomatic disputes.
Kyodo News reported that the Spring Grand Festival at Yasukuni Shrine runs from the 21st to the 23rd, which is the first grand festival since the Takaichi cabinet was formed in October last year. Successive prime ministers have often offered Masakaki during grand festivals, and Takaichi's current action is seen as continuing this precedent.
In the past, when Sanae Takaichi served as a cabinet member, she visited Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of the end of the war and during spring and autumn grand festivals. However, during the autumn grand festival in October last year, before she took office as prime minister, she did not personally visit but offered tamagushi-ryo (offering fee) in her private capacity.
According to the report, if the prime minister personally visits Yasukuni Shrine, it will inevitably provoke protests from China, whose relations are tense, and may also affect the improving relations between Japan and South Korea. Therefore, there is an intention to avoid triggering diplomatic issues.
In addition to Takaichi, cabinet members including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori, House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi, and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno all offered Masakaki; Fumitake Fujita, co-representative of Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Secretary-General Hiroshi Nakatsu personally visited the shrine.
After visiting, Fumitake Fujita told the media: "The reason we can live in Japan today is because the spirits of the fallen heroes risked their lives to protect the country. Politicians should always reflect on this." (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150421
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(Central News Agency reporter Dai Yazhen, Tokyo 21st exclusive report) Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi today, in conjunction with the Spring Grand Festival, offered "Masakaki" to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo under the name of "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi." Sources revealed that Takaichi is confirmed not to personally visit during the Spring Festival. Japanese media pointed out that this move is intended to avoid irritating China and South Korea and to reduce the possibility of diplomatic disputes.
Kyodo News reported that the Spring Grand Festival at Yasukuni Shrine runs from the 21st to the 23rd, which is the first grand festival since the Takaichi cabinet was formed in October last year. Successive prime ministers have often offered Masakaki during grand festivals, and Takaichi's current action is seen as continuing this precedent.
In the past, when Sanae Takaichi served as a cabinet member, she visited Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of the end of the war and during spring and autumn grand festivals. However, during the autumn grand festival in October last year, before she took office as prime minister, she did not personally visit but offered tamagushi-ryo (offering fee) in her private capacity.
According to the report, if the prime minister personally visits Yasukuni Shrine, it will inevitably provoke protests from China, whose relations are tense, and may also affect the improving relations between Japan and South Korea. Therefore, there is an intention to avoid triggering diplomatic issues.
In addition to Takaichi, cabinet members including House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori, House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi, and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno all offered Masakaki; Fumitake Fujita, co-representative of Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Secretary-General Hiroshi Nakatsu personally visited the shrine.
After visiting, Fumitake Fujita told the media: "The reason we can live in Japan today is because the spirits of the fallen heroes risked their lives to protect the country. Politicians should always reflect on this." (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150421
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.