There was a report that Takai chi Sanae, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is discussing holding off on a visit during the autumn grand festival to be held at Yasukuni Shrine from the 17th to the 19th.
On the 7th, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, citing multiple Liberal Democratic Party officials, said, "(President Takai chi) judged that a visit could provoke backlash from China and Korea and that a diplomatic flare-up should be avoided."
Yomiuri Shimbun explained, "President Takai chi has until now visited Yasukuni Shrine on the day marking the end of the war (defeat) and during the spring and autumn grand festivals," adding, "However, after assuming the presidency, there have been voices within the party opposing a visit on the grounds that the impact (on diplomacy, etc.) would be significant."
Yomiuri Shimbun also analyzed that the fact U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Japan at the end of this month likely influenced President Takai chi's decision to hold off on a shrine visit.
Yasukuni Shrine enshrines Class-A war criminals from World War II. During last year's presidential election, President Takai chi made it clear she intended to continue visiting, saying, "Yasukuni Shrine is a place I have cherished very much, and I want to continue to pay respects to those who died in accordance with national policy."