Sources close to the prime minister said Ishiba, who assumed office on Oct. 1, is expected to abstain from visiting the shrine in person during the three-day festival. The move follows a pattern set by his predecessor, Fumio Kishida, who also refrained from personal visits, in contrast to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's more controversial approach.
Yasukuni, which enshrines Japan's war dead including convicted war criminals, has long been a source of diplomatic tension between Japan and its Asian neighbors, particularly South Korea and China.
Both nations have consistently expressed strong opposition to visits by Japanese officials, viewing such actions as a tacit endorsement of Japan's militaristic past.
