On October 17, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made headlines by offering a ritual offering known as “masakaki” at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, coinciding with the beginning of the shrine’s autumn ritual. This act has drawn scrutiny, especially considering that he had previously stated he would not participate in the autumn festival.
Reports from Kyodo News indicate that Ishiba participated in the ceremony under his title as Prime Minister but would not be attending the main festivities. The spring and autumn rituals at Yasukuni Shrine are considered significant events, and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, during his time in office, similarly opted to offer masakaki without attending the ceremonies personally. A cross-party group of lawmakers had already decided to postpone their collective visit to the shrine due to the ongoing House of Representatives elections.
Reuters pointed out that offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine have faced criticism from South Korea and China. During the spring festival earlier this year, then-Prime Minister Kishida also made an offering without participating in the ceremony, which disappointed South Korea, leading them to call for Japan’s political leaders to reflect on wartime history.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed strong opposition to Japan’s actions regarding Yasukuni Shrine, revealing that the Chinese government had lodged formal protests with Tokyo. Wang highlighted that the shrine is a symbol of Japan’s militaristic past and honors 14 Class A war criminals responsible for wartime atrocities. He urged Japan to adhere to its commitments to acknowledge and reflect on its militaristic history, advocating for tangible actions to rebuild trust with its Asian neighbors and the international community.
Chinese media, including CCTV and Global Times, reported on the news early today, sparking intense reactions from Chinese netizens on platforms like Weibo. Many users criticized Ishiba for what they saw as hypocrisy, questioning his previous statements about not participating in the Yasukuni autumn ritual. Comments ranged from “one thing and then another” to “who says he is pro-China?” and “what happened to not coming here?”
