石破首相、靖国神社に真榊　春の例大祭、参拝見送り

　石破茂首相は２１日、東京・九段北の靖国神社に祭具の真榊（まさかき）を奉納した。同日始まった春季例大祭に合わせたもので、２３日までの期間中、参拝は見送る意向だ。閣僚の参拝も初日は確認されなかった。
　首相は真榊に添えた木札に「内閣総理大臣　石破茂」と記した。首相の対応は岸田文雄前首相や菅義偉元首相に倣ったもので、就任直後の昨年１０月の秋季例大祭の際も真榊を納めている。
　林芳正官房長官は２１日の記者会見で「首相は私人の立場で真榊を奉納したものと理解している」と述べた。閣僚では福岡資麿厚生労働相と城内実経済安全保障担当相も真榊を納めた。
　現職首相の靖国参拝は２０１３年１２月の安倍晋三氏が最後。この時には中国や韓国との関係が悪化し、米政府が失望を表明した。（2025/04/21-20:08）

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made a "masakaki" ritual tree offering to Yasukuni Shrine at the start of the war-related Tokyo shrine's spring festival on Monday.
   Ishiba has no plans to visit the Shinto shrine during the three-day festival, according to people familiar with the matter.
   The shrine is regarded by neighboring countries as a symbol of Japan's past militarism as it honors Class-A World War II criminals along with the war dead.
   House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga, House of Councillors President Masakazu Sekiguchi and health minister Takamaro Fukuoka also offered masakaki trees to the shrine.
   Ishiba made a masakaki offering to the shrine during its autumn festival in October last year. During the event, visits to the shrine by his cabinet ministers were not confirmed.