Gov't expresses regret over Takaichi's offering to controversial war shrine

The Korean government expressed regret Saturday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo for the start of its three-day autumn festival. Takaichi plans to refrain from visiting the shrine during the festival. Seoul said the shrine glorifies Japan’s past aggression and urged Japanese leaders to show sincere remorse through action.

Yasukuni Shrine honors about 2.46 million Japanese war dead, including 14 Class A criminals convicted by international tribunals for their roles in World War II.

Takaichi sent the offering in her capacity as prime minister.

Japan’s Kyodo News reported that Takaichi would not visit the shrine in person during the festival.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said trust-based relations with Japan require Japanese leaders to face history and demonstrate humble reflection and sincere remorse.

Published Oct 17, 2026 3:29 pm KST

A wooden plaque, left, bearing the name of Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seen beside a tree that she sent as an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine on the first day of the Autumn Festival in Tokyo, Oct. 17. AFP-Yonhap

The Korean government expressed regret Saturday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to a war shrine seen as a symbol of Japan's imperialistic past.

Takaichi sent the offering earlier Saturday in her capacity as prime minister to mark the start of the Yasukuni Shrine's three-day autumn festival. But she plans to refrain from visiting the shrine in person during the festival, Japan's Kyodo News reported, citing sources close to the prime minister.

The Yasukuni Shrine honors some 2.46 million Japanese war dead, including 14 Class A criminals convicted by international tribunals for their roles in World War II.

In a statement, Seoul's foreign ministry said it "once again expresses deep disappointment and regret" that responsible Japanese leaders have "repeatedly sent offerings to or visited Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's past war of aggression and enshrines war criminals."

It urged Japan's responsible leaders to "face history squarely and demonstrate humble reflection on and sincere remorse for the past through action."

"We once again stress that such steps are an important foundation for building a future-oriented South Korea-Japan relationship based on trust between the two countries and their peoples," it added.

韩国政府周六对日本首相高市早苗向东京靖国神社敬献祭品表示遗憾，此举标志着该神社为期三天的秋季祭典正式拉开帷幕。高市早苗计划在祭典期间不参拜靖国神社。首尔方面表示，靖国神社美化了日本过去的侵略行径，并敦促日本领导人以实际行动表达真诚的悔意。

靖国神社供奉着约 246 万日本战争死难者，其中包括 14 名因在二战中扮演的角色而被国际法庭定罪的甲级罪犯。

高市是以首相的身份送上贡品的。

日本共同社报道称，高市在祭典期间不会亲自参拜神社。

韩国外交部表示，与日本建立基于信任的关系，需要日本领导人正视历史，表现出谦卑的反思和真诚的悔恨。

发布于2026年10月17日下午3:29（韩国标准时间）

10月17日，在东京秋祭的第一天，日本首相高市早苗向靖国神社敬献了一棵树，树旁立着一块刻有她名字的木牌（左）。（法新社-韩联社）

周六，日本首相高市早苗向被视为日本帝国主义历史象征的战争神社献上祭品后，韩国政府表示遗憾。

据日本共同社援引首相身边人士报道，高市千寻于周六早些时候以首相身份向靖国神社敬献了供品，以庆祝为期三天的秋季祭典开幕。但她计划在祭典期间不亲自参拜神社。

靖国神社供奉着约 246 万日本战争死难者，其中包括 14 名因在二战中扮演的角色而被国际法庭定罪的甲级罪犯。

首尔外交部在一份声明中表示，对日本有关领导人“屡次向靖国神社送祭或参拜，该神社颂扬日本过去的侵略战争并供奉战犯”，对此“再次表示深切的失望和遗憾”。

它敦促日本的负责任的领导人“正视历史，并通过行动展现对过去的谦卑反思和真诚悔恨”。

声明还补充道：“我们再次强调，这些举措是构建面向未来的韩日关系的重要基础，而这种关系建立在两国及其人民之间的信任之上。”