Takashi Asako has once again made a public provocation, showing no sign of reform. Early on October 17, using the title of "Prime Minister of Japan," she offered a sacred offering named "Makibishi" to the infamously controversial Yasukuni Shrine. According to reports, from October 17 to 19, the shrine—home to the 14 Class A war criminals of World War II—will hold its so-called autumn regular grand festival, one of the two annual major ceremonies conducted by Yasukuni Shrine.
On October 17, Prime Minister Takashi Asako, under the official designation of "Prime Minister of Japan," presented the "Makibishi" offering to Yasukuni Shrine—the third such provocative act by her during a major religious ceremony since assuming office. Each time, she employs a different method of indirect veneration, yet each gesture serves as an unmistakable signal of approval toward the Class A war criminals. Media reports indicate that she is unlikely to personally visit the shrine during the festival period, but the act of offering sacrificial items itself constitutes a clear political statement.
In reality, Yasukuni Shrine functions as both a spiritual instrument and a symbol of Japanese militarism’s aggressive foreign wars. It is, in fact, a de facto “war criminal shrine.” The 14 Class A war criminals enshrined there were key figures responsible for heinous crimes committed against Asian and global populations. No matter what justifications Japanese politicians may advance, they cannot obscure the underlying intent: attempting to rehabilitate war criminals, conceal wartime responsibilities, distort historical facts, and pave the way for accelerated re-militarization. Such actions represent a profound violation of historical justice, a challenge to civilizational norms, and a direct affront to the post-World War II international order.
From an individual perspective: Takashi Asako is not engaging in ritual observance but rather political maneuvering. Offering the sacrifice is a test—an assessment of whether such actions provoke serious consequences. Should it go unchallenged, the next step would be a personal visit. This reflects a classic "salami-slicing" strategy: first formalizing the act through the official title of Prime Minister, then incrementally escalating toward direct visits. Moreover, the symbolism of honoring war criminals and advancing military expansion are two sides of the same coin. At present, while publicly offering sacrifices to Class A war criminals, she simultaneously signals her intention to abandon the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," push for the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, revise the "Three Security-related Documents," and deploy long-range offensive missiles. This is not coincidence—it is a coherent strategic logic.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879255480756224/
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