The Japanese Prime Minister is ardently working to create an amicable environment for regular official visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. These efforts could stimulate conversations about Japan's war-time history and diplomatic relations with its neighbors. No specific timeline or plan has been shared publicly so far.

Visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by public figures in Japan have often stirred controversy due to the shrine's association with Japan's militaristic past. The Shrine honors soldiers who died for the country, including WWII war criminals. While many in Japan view visits as a necessary act of respect to those who died for their country, others see it as a symbol of Japan's unrepentant attitude towards its past aggression.

In the US or EU, commemorations of past wars usually focus on the victims and the tragic nature of war, rather than the honoring of individuals convicted of war crimes. There are rarely issues of such a visit causing diplomatic friction with neighboring countries.