Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's potential visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine has sparked renewed diplomatic concerns across Asia this week. The shrine, which honors Japan's war dead including convicted World War II criminals, remains a flashpoint in regional relations due to its historical revisionist exhibits.
Takaichi, known for her conservative views on wartime history, has visited the shrine 11 times since 2018. Her previous statements questioning the scope of Japan's wartime aggression have drawn sharp responses from neighboring countries. Professor David Acevedo of the City University of New York warned:
"Such visits risk undermining years of diplomatic progress. They revive historical wounds we believed were healing."
The controversy centers on the shrine's Yūshūkan museum, which continues to glorify Japan's 20th-century military campaigns. China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Korea have repeatedly condemned the site's whitewashing of wartime atrocities committed by Japanese forces.
Analysts suggest the timing is particularly sensitive as Asian nations prepare to mark the 80th anniversary of World War II's conclusion in 2025. Business leaders express concern that renewed tensions could affect regional economic cooperation, particularly in semiconductor and green energy sectors where cross-border partnerships have flourished this year.
