Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine is emerging as a potential flashpoint between Japan's moderate new prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, and more hawkish figures within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
During his brief campaign to replace right-wing premier Shinzo Abe, who announced his resignation on September 1, Mr Fukuda made considerable play of his vow not to visit the shrine to avoid causing friction with neighbouring countries which suffered under Japanese wartime aggression.
At one point he also raised the prospect of a new, more neutral state memorial to Japan's war dead.
But political analysts fear he may have a tough time with right-wingers as he seeks to push more moderate policies - including improved ties with China and North Korea.
Political sources say that, already, some conservative party figures are grumbling that Mr Fukuda looks too weak in his approach to historical issues and the shrine, where 14 Class A war criminals executed at the end of the second world war are honoured among 2.4 million Japanese war dead.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that he is unlikely to enjoy any political honeymoon given the pressures on his party after Mr Abe's scandal-plagued year in office. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan now controls the Upper House and is pushing for fresh elections as soon as possible.
Political scientist Takeshi Sasaki warned that Mr Fukuda lacks the right-wing cover exploited by Mr Abe as he sought to boost ties with China.