South Korea expresses regret over Takaichi's Yasukuni offering

· Politics · South Korea · Japan

South Korea's government expressed regret after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo to mark the start of its three-day autumn festival. Seoul said the shrine is seen as a symbol of Japan's imperialistic past, and its statement revived a long-running diplomatic grievance. Takaichi sent the offering in her capacity as prime minister and is expected to skip a visit to the Shinto shrine during the festival, which runs through Monday. The shrine has long been a source of friction with China and South Korea, both of which view it as glorifying Japan's wartime past.

Why it matters：Historical memory remains a live constraint on trilateral cooperation among Japan, South Korea and China, even amid shared security concerns.

Key points

  • Takaichi sent the offering to mark the start of the autumn festival.
  • She is expected to skip an in-person visit during the three-day rite.
  • Seoul called the shrine a symbol of Japan's imperialist past.

Sources (original reporting)

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