China and South Korea have objected to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ritual masakaki tree offering to Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday. China's foreign ministry stated it "firmly opposes and strongly condemns" the action and lodged a protest with Japan. South Korea's Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed strong disappointment and serious concern.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made a masakaki ritual tree offering to Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday for its three-day spring festival. She is not expected to visit the shrine itself.
A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry objected on the same day, saying China "firmly opposes and strongly condemns" the actions. The ministry revealed it had lodged a protest with Japan, claiming the offering was "a provocation against Japan’s war victims."
South Korea's Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement expressing strong disappointment and serious concern.
Separately, Economic growth strategy minister Minoru Kiuchi visited the shrine, signed the visitor's book as a minister, and offered a tamagushi sacred tree branch at his own expense. This marked the first shrine visit by a member of the Takaichi Cabinet.
