City
Epaper

Abe sends ritual offering to controversial Yasukuni Shrine

By IANS | Updated: August 15, 2019 06:35 IST

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.

Open in App

The offering by the Prime Minister comes as Japan is observing the 74th anniversary on Thursday of its surrender in World War II, Xinhua reported.

The Japanese leader, however, will unlikely visit the notorious shrine in person in light of improving regional relations.

The same likely goes for the majority of his cabinet ministers, sources with knowledge of the matter have said.

The controversial Shinto shrine, seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, has long been a source of diplomatic friction with Japan's neighbours as it honours convicted war criminals together with the war dead.

Yasukuni Shrine honours 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from the World War II.

Visits and ritual offerings made in person or by proxy to the infamous shrine by Japanese leaders and officials have consistently sparked strong criticism and hurts the feelings of China and South Korea and other countries brutalized by Japan during the World War II.

Abe has sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni during its spring and autumn festivals every year since he launched his current administration in 2012.

The Japanese prime minister last visited the controversial shrine in person in Dec. 2013, which was strongly condemned by China and South Korea, as well as the United States, who said at the time it was disappointed with Abe's decision.

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in App

Related Stories

BusinessSouth Central Railway completes Kavach field trials for 487 route kms

NationalMamata Banerjee set to be ousted, 'Ram Rajya' to be established in West Bengal: Ravi Kishan

InternationalOver 180 global delegations to attend International Security Forum

NationalSouth Central Railway completes Kavach field trials for 487 route kms

BusinessKandla Port logs record cargo handling in FY26, advances green push with methanol bunkering

International Realted Stories

International"Strike could trigger nuclear accident," WHO chief raises alarm over latest attacks on Iran power plant

InternationalIndia's role seen as vital to bolster Bangladesh-Nepal economic ties

InternationalRising academic exchanges raise security concerns as China's influence looms over Taiwanese campuses

InternationalIranian drones strike Bahrain's petrochemical firm, fire under control

InternationalBJP, Cong slam Pak Defence Minister's 'Kolkata as potential target' remark