Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a tribute to Yasukuni Shrine for the first time since taking office.
Prime Minister Kishida made a tribute called 'Masakaki' in the name of the Prime Minister today (17th), when the Yasukuni Shrine's autumn festival began.
Masakaki refers to a birch tree (a type of evergreen tree) dedicated to a shrine or altar.
However, Kyodo News and Jiji News reported that Prime Minister Kishida would not visit the shrine in person during the autumn festival on the 17th and 18th.
Regarding Prime Minister Kishida's not attending in person, Jiji news agency interpreted that "it appears to be intended to avoid influence on diplomatic relations with China and South Korea."
Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited the Yasukuni Shrine for the first time since leaving office.
It has been 13 days since the Prime Minister's resignation.
After visiting the shrine, Suga told reporters, "I came here as a former prime minister."
During his tenure in office, he chose to pay tribute instead of visiting in person on the day of the end of the Pacific War (August 15) and during the spring and autumn rites.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine as prime minister in December 2013, a year after his second administration, causing strong opposition from neighboring countries such as South Korea and China.
(Photo = Getty Images Korea)