Autumn Festival of Yasukuni Shrine. Offerings to Sanae from Hiso Taka City.

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, comprehensive foreign news report on the 17th) Nippon Taka City Sanae cooperated with the Yasukuni Shrine to hold a three-day autumn festival from today, and offer offerings as usual. Minoru Jonuchi, the minister in charge of the growth strategy of the Takaichi Cabinet, personally visited the Yasukuni Shrine earlier today.

The Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo is controversial because it honors Class-A war criminals from World War II. Whenever the Japanese Prime Minister or cabinet ministers visit the shrine, it will trigger a strong backlash from China and South Korea.

Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) reported that Takaichi cooperated with the autumn festival of the Yasukuni Shrine and offered a potted plant called "Sakaki" as an offering, and attached a wooden sign that read "Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae." In addition, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno and Minoru Shirouchi provided salary to "Masakaki".

The castle official said today that he worshiped "Masakaki" and "Jade string materials" at his own expense (sacrifice fee). After visiting the shrine, he told the media, "I sincerely mourn the heroic spirits who sacrificed their precious lives for the motherland and pay high respect."

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in the name of a spokesperson, "The Yasukuni Shrine glorifies Japan's past aggressive wars and glorifies war criminals. Responsible Japanese leaders have once again made offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine and visited the Yasukuni Shrine repeatedly, expressing their deep disappointment and regret."

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed out, "We call on Japan's leaders to face up to history and sincerely reflect on the past history with practical actions. This is an important cornerstone for establishing mutual trust between the two countries and building South Korea-Japan relations into the future."

Jiji News Agency reported that Takaichi attended a memorial ceremony for fallen members of the Self-Defense Forces held by the Ministry of Defense earlier today. Regarding whether to worship at a distance from the Yasukuni Shrine, people around Takaichi stated that it was "inconvenient to comment."

On August 15 this year, the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Takaichi paid homage to the Yasukuni Shrine in the parking lot of the Nippon Budokan. She went to the Budokan that day to participate in Japan's "National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead."

When Takaichi was a cabinet member, she continued to visit the Yasukuni Shrine during the Redai Festival. However, she had not visited the Yasukuni Shrine since the autumn Redai Festival in October before she became prime minister last year. The high market is considering the tension between Japan and China caused by her Taiwan-related remarks in Congress and the continued improvement of relations in South Korea.

The Asahi Shimbun reported that when Takaichi was questioned by Cadet Democratic Party member Tsujimoto Kiyomi at the Senate Budget Committee on the 16th, she was asked about her views on the Murayama statement.

In 1995, when Takaichi Sanae was still a member of the Shinko Diet, she told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, "At least my own generation cannot be said to be a party (to the war), so I have not reflected on it, and I see no reason to ask me to reflect on it."

When Tsujimoto mentioned what Takaichi said in 1995 yesterday, he asked Takaichi if his thoughts had changed. Takaichi responded, "It is growing every day." Asked how to change, Takaichi said: "As Abe said in his speech on the 70th anniversary of the war, I don't think future generations should be held responsible."