Japan Press Weekly

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2013 November 13 - 19 [HISTORY]

Opinion poll indicates majority oppose Abe’s visits to Yasukuni

A Jiji Press opinion poll in November shows that 46.3% of respondents think it would be better for Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to hold off on his visits to the Yasukuni Shrine while in office, exceeding those who think the opposite (43.1%).

Regarding the fact that he deferred a visit to the shrine’s autumn ritual, 61.4% answered it “was” appropriate, while 26.5% said it “was not”.

Abe states that he regrets that he had not visited the shrine during his first government between September 2006 and August 2007. He is now eager to visit the shrine. Despite failing to visit the shrine’s seasonal festival this autumn, he offered a sacred tree using his title of prime minister.