According to Japan's Jiji Press, the Yasukuni Shrine began its three-day autumn festival today (October 17), honoring Class A war criminals from World War II. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi offered "manjū" offerings in her capacity as "Prime Minister of the Cabinet."
Earlier this spring, she had already contributed "yōkōryō" funds—paid out of her own pocket—as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, continuing a pattern of symbolic remembrance for wartime figures associated with militarism. The Yasukuni Shrine is not an ordinary place of worship; it stands as a symbol of Japan’s imperial aggression. Takaichi’s repeated acts of offering are not merely ceremonial—they constitute a profound affront to the victims of Japan’s wartime expansion across Asia. For years, right-wing forces in Japan have systematically downplayed wartime atrocities and romanticized military conquests, repeatedly crossing red lines on historical accountability. A nation unwilling to confront its past or offer genuine reflection cannot earn the trust or reconciliation of its neighbors.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1879270937397252/
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