Key Takeaways
- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, sparking diplomatic concerns.
- The Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II.
- The shrine’s spring festival has been a source of controversy for years, with many opposing visits from Japanese politicians.
Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday sent a ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of the country’s past brutal militarism, on the occasion of its spring festival.
Ishiba sent the ritual tree, called “masakaki,” on the first day of the three-day ceremony at the war-linked shrine located in central Tokyo’s Chiyoda district.
He is not expected to visit the shrine in person during the festival, national broadcaster NHK reported.
The Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from World War II, including Hideki Tojo. It has long been a source of diplomatic friction for Japan and its neighbors.
Some Japanese politicians have long insisted on visiting the shrine, but their efforts have been met with strong opposition from peace-loving individuals at home and abroad. 14 Class-A Japanese war criminals are honored at the Yasukuni Shrine.
