LDP chief Takaichi may skip Yasukuni shrine visit for autumn rite: sources

Takaichi, who has regularly visited the shrine in Tokyo even while serving as a cabinet minister, is believed to be heeding advice from those around her to avoid diplomatic friction ahead of her possible inauguration as Japan's first female prime minister. On Tuesday, Tetsuo Saito, head of the LDP's junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, told Takaichi during a meeting that the Yasukuni issue "should not become a diplomatic matter," as the security environment surrounding Japan has grown increasingly severe. Meanwhile, LDP lawmaker Minoru Kihara, who is likely to be tapped as chief cabinet secretary under Takaichi's leadership, has decided to postpone a two-day trip to Taiwan from Thursday as part of a cross-party group, another source close to him said.