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Yasukuni Shrine: Japan PM Takaichi sends masakaki offering for autumn festival, South Korea voices regret

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Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo received a ritual “masakaki” offering from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on 17 October 2026, the first day of its three-day autumn festival, Kyodo News, NHK and Jiji Press reported. The offering, a potted tree stand of evergreen twigs, was sent in her capacity as prime minister, following the practice of her predecessors. Takaichi is not expected to visit the shrine during the festival, which runs until Monday.

Yasukuni Shrine: File photo: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers an address at a ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office on 15 October 2026
File photo: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers an address at a ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office on 15 October 2026 Photo: Prime Minister's Office of Japan (Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use).

Why the Yasukuni Shrine offering draws protests

The Shinto shrine honours Japan’s war dead, including leaders convicted as war criminals by a post-World War II tribunal, and China and South Korea see it as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism, the agencies noted. Kyodo said South Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement later on Saturday expressing deep disappointment and regret, despite improving ties between the two countries. The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo said Beijing “strongly condemns the negative moves” by Japan, according to Kyodo. Kyodo published a photo of the masakaki sent by Takaichi standing at the shrine.

Key Facts

  • Offering sent: 17 Oct 2026 (festival day 1)
  • Type: masakaki tree stand
  • Festival: 3 days, to Monday
  • South Korea: deep disappointment and regret
  • China: “strongly condemns” (embassy in Tokyo)

Sanae Takaichi's record on visits

Takaichi, a conservative, routinely visited the shrine before becoming prime minister. NHK said she used to go during the spring and autumn festivals and on 15 August, the anniversary of the end of the war, but has not done so since becoming leader of the Liberal Democratic Party last October. On 15 August this year, she prayed in the direction of the shrine from the Nippon Budokan, where she was attending the government’s memorial ceremony. She did not visit during the spring festival in April either, Jiji Press reported. A source close to her told Kyodo she was unlikely to visit this time, amid strained relations with China. Ties with South Korea have been relatively stable, the same source said.

Ministers and lawmakers at Yasukuni Shrine

Minoru Kiuchi, the minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy and growth strategy, visited the shrine on Saturday and made a cash offering at his own expense, Jiji and Kyodo reported. “I offered my heartfelt condolences and paid homage to the spirits of heroes who gave their precious lives for the nation and renewed my pledge to renounce war,” Kiuchi told reporters. Lower house Speaker Eisuke Mori and upper house President Masakazu Sekiguchi also sent offerings, and Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi visited. A cross-party group of lawmakers plans to visit on Monday. Takaichi took office as prime minister a year ago, Kyodo noted. The three-day festival ends on Monday, 19 October.

Why It Matters: Every Yasukuni gesture by a Japanese leader is watched closely in Beijing and Seoul, and can affect diplomacy across East Asia.

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Source: Kyodo News · NHK World-Japan · Nippon.com (Jiji Press)

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