1st LD Writethru: Japan's Abe sends ritual offering to notorious Yasukuni Shrine, lawmakers visit en masse

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from WWII.

Along with Abe's offering, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki and the speakers of both houses of the Diet also sent ritual offerings to the shrine on the occasion of its annual spring festival.

The war-linked Yasukuni Shrine is regarded as a symbol of past Japanese militarism.

Although ritual offerings and visits to the shrine draw staunch criticism from neighboring countries, around 90 Japanese cross-party lawmakers visited the shrine on Friday and Seiichi Eto, an aide to the prime minister and a ruling Liberal Democratic Party upper house lawmaker, also made a visit.

Some of Abe's Cabinet ministers may also visit the controversial shrine during the festival that concludes on Sunday, informed sources said.

Abe is reportedly to refrain from visiting the notorious shrine during the festival in person in an effort to prevent further damage to Japan's relationship with China and South Korea.

Visits and ritual offerings made by proxy to the infamous shrine by Japanese leaders and officials have consistently sparked strong criticism from its victimized Asian neighbors during WWII, including China and South Korea. Endit