The Japanese Prime Minister sent an offering to a temple that is considered a symbol of militarism

Sanae Takaichi refused to personally visit the shrine to cause diplomatic trouble with South Korea and China, which react strongly to such pilgrimages.

Tokyo, October 17. /TASS/. According to Ambassador Arjan Sanae Takaichi, the Prime Minister of Japan sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shinto Shrine, which is considered a symbol of militarism in China and several other Asian countries.

As Kyodo points out, Takaichi refrained from visiting the shrine in person to avoid causing diplomatic problems with South Korea and China, which would react strongly to such a pilgrimage. Before becoming prime minister, Takaichi regularly visited the shrine twice a year, including as a minister. The last time a Japanese head of state personally visited Yasukuni was in December 2013, when Shinzo Abe held the position.

The current offering was made on the occasion of the traditional autumn festival held in the shrine. Takaichi's previous bid, marking the 81st anniversary of Tokyo's surrender in World War II on August 15 this year, was made not as head of state, but as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Located in central Tokyo, this Shinto shrine houses a list of names of Japanese people who have died on the battlefield since the second half of the 19th century. The list also includes war criminals who were executed by the International Military Tribunal after the surrender of Tokyo in World War II. The visit of Japanese officials to Yasukuni provoked protests and was noted in China, South Korea and other Asian countries as a justification for Japan's invasion.