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Sanae Takaichi avoids Yasukuni Shrine visit to maintain diplomatic relations with China and South Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opted to stay away from the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday to avoid straining relations with China and South Korea. While other Japanese officials, including Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, visited the shrine to honor the 2.5 million war dead, Takaichi paid her respects from a short distance away. The shrine is often criticized by neighboring countries because it enshrines 14 convicted World War II war criminals. China and South Korea have expressed strong protests, viewing the visits as a lack of remorse for Japan's wartime atrocities. In her address at Nippon Budokan, Takaichi mourned the victims of major devastation and emphasized Japan's commitment to global peace. Despite her personal history as a regular visitor to the shrine, Takaichi's decision reflects a desire for pragmatic diplomacy. She aims to create an environment of understanding with allies and neighbors. By honoring the war dead without physically entering the shrine, Takaichi balances Japan's internal traditions with the need for regional stability.

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