Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga today (17th) dedicated a tribute to Yasukuni Shrine's autumn rites, where 14 spirits of A-class war criminals of the Pacific War are sacrificed together.
On the first day of the ceremonies, Prime Minister Suga offered a tribute to a kind of evergreen tree.
Prime Minister Suga did not visit Yasukuni Shrine and did not send any tribute while serving as the Minister of State for 7 years and 8 months, the second period in office of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
After taking office, Prime Minister Suga replaced Yasukuni Shrine, which was first met after taking office, by offering a tribute instead of attending a large ritual in the fall.
This is because if you visit in person, it may cause fierce opposition between Korea and China, which could lead to diplomatic friction from the beginning of your inauguration.
Former Prime Minister Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine once in December 2013, the year following the start of the second in office.
Prime Minister Suga, who has put forward the full succession of the Abe cabinet, is interpreted as intending to continue the Abe route even in the issue of Yasukuni Shrine with this offering.
Built in Tokyo, Yasukuni Shrine is a facility that supports the 246,000 spirits who gave their lives for the Emperor during the civil war in Japan and various aggression wars caused by the Japanese colonialism before and after the Meiji Restoration in 1867.
In 1978, seven A-class war criminals, including former Prime Minister Tojo Hideki, who were hanged after the Japanese defeat, and former Prime Minister Koiso Kuniaki, who had been sentenced to death by an arms custody, were confined in 1978.