Sources have said Takaichi, a conservative, is likely to refrain from visiting the war-linked shrine on the war anniversary. The shrine honours Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals. Visits by Japanese prime ministers and lawmakers have drawn sharp rebukes from China and South Korea, which both suffered under Japan’s wartime aggression.

Takaichi, as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, paid for the offering out of her own pocket, according to a senior party executive.

Koizumi became the first sitting defence minister confirmed to have visited the Shinto shrine on the anniversary since Minoru Kihara, who went on August 15, 2024. Kihara is now chief cabinet secretary in Takaichi’s government.

Hitoshi Kikawada, another cabinet member, also visited the shrine.

Kikawada serves as state minister in charge of issues related to the Northern Territories off Japan’s Hokkaido – islands at the centre of a territorial row with Russia. Tokyo maintains the former Soviet Union illegally seized the islands after the war.