Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba recently made his first-ever offering to Yasukuni Shrine, a move that has sparked criticism from South Korea due to the shrine’s connection to Japan’s militaristic past. The shrine honors 2.5 million war dead, including 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal.
This gesture, commonly made during autumn and spring festivals, is often a point of contention between Japan, South Korea, and China. South Korea’s foreign ministry expressed “deep disappointment and regret” over Ishiba’s offering, without directly naming him.
The timing of Ishiba’s offering comes as he recently took office following the resignation of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Additionally, he has called for a snap election, with polls suggesting his ruling Liberal Democratic Party may lose its outright majority.
Despite the tensions, Ishiba and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral ties, as Japan-South Korea relations have seen improvements in recent years.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.