Japan's PM Takaichi sends offering to Yasukuni Shrine but skips visit
Japan's first female prime minister sent a ritual masakaki tree stand to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine on 17 October, the start of its autumn festival, while skipping a personal visit to avoid friction with Beijing and Seoul.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual masakaki tree stand offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday 17 October 2026, the opening day of its three-day autumn festival. She made the offering in her capacity as prime minister but is expected to skip a personal visit to the Shinto shrine during the festival, which runs through Monday. The move reflects a careful balancing act for Japan's first female prime minister: Takaichi has consistently visited the shrine during its festivals in previous years, including as a cabinet minister, but has refrained from doing so since last autumn's festival, just before taking office. Analysts said she appears to be prioritising diplomatic relations with China, which have been strained by her remarks on a possible contingency involving Taiwan, and with South Korea, where ties have been slowly improving. The Yasukuni Shrine honours Japan's 2.5 million war dead but also enshrines 14 Class A war criminals, drawing routine protests from Beijing and Seoul whenever Japanese leaders visit.
