Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression, on Saturday, local media reported.

She made a "tamagushi" ritual offering to the war-linked shrine through senior officials of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on the occasion of the anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II, Kyodo News reported.

Shinjiro Koizumi visited instead, public broadcaster NHK reported, marking the first visit by an incumbent Japanese defence minister since one of his predecessors, Minoru Kihara, did so in 2024.

Yasukuni Shrine, located in central Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, honours 14 convicted Japanese Class-A war criminals from World War II. It has long been a source of diplomatic friction between Japan and its neighbours.

For a long time, visits and ritual offerings made by Japanese officials to the controversial shrine have consistently sparked criticism and opposition both at home and abroad, hurting the feelings of the people of China, South Korea and other countries and regions victimised by Japan's wartime aggression.

Several senior lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party likewise paid visits to the controversial shrine on Saturday, the report said. (Xinhua)



Edited by Robert Kemp