Japan’s New Prime Minister Sends Offering to Yasukuni Shrine, Irking South Korea

A "masakaki" tree, a ritual offering sent by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is pictured at Yasukuni shrine, seen by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, during the shrine's biannual festival held in the spring and autumn, in Tokyo on Oct. 17, 2021. Kyodo/via Reuters

TOKYO—Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine for war dead for the autumn festival, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday, prompting the South Korean government to express “disappointment.”

Kishida was following the example of previous Japanese leaders, who have refrained from visiting in person during the spring and autumn festivals or on the anniversary of Japan’s World War Two surrender to avoid angering China and South Korea.