菅首相、靖国参拝見送り　１７日からの秋季例大祭

　菅義偉首相は、東京・九段北の靖国神社の秋季例大祭（１７～１８日）に合わせた参拝を見送る方針を固めた。関係者が１４日、明らかにした。安倍晋三前首相と同様、祭具の真榊（まさかき）を奉納する方向で調整する。
　中国や韓国はこれまで、日本の首相、官房長官らの靖国参拝に強く反対してきた。関係者によると、首相は官房長官時代も参拝を見送っており、今回も近隣外交に配慮したとみられる。（2020/10/14-22:18）

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has decided not to visit war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo during its autumn festival from Saturday, informed sources said Wednesday.
   Suga is expected to make a ritual "masakaki" tree offering as former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did. Suga took over the top government post from Abe last month.
   China and South Korea regard the Shinto shrine, which honors the war dead including convicted war criminals, as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
   Both Beijing and Seoul have expressed strong opposition to visits to the shrine by key Japanese officials, including the prime minister and the chief cabinet secretary.
   Suga did not visit the shrine during his tenure as chief cabinet secretary, the post he held until he became prime minister.