Japan's Abe Sends Ceremonial Offering To Controversial Yasukuni Shrine - Reports
Umer Jamshaid Published August 15, 2018 | 10:48 AM
TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th August, 2018) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sent a ceremonial offering to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which is regarded by other Asian nations as a symbol of Japan's militarist past, and apologized for not being able to visit the shrine in person, local media reported on Wednesday.
"I am sorry I cannot visit the shrine. Pay due respect [on my behalf] to the souls of our ancestors," Abe told his aide Masahiko Shibayama who delivered the prime minister's offering to the shrine, as quoted by the Kyodo news agency.
Wednesday marks the 73rd anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. On this day Japan holds an annual ceremony to mourn the war dead, while the countrys officials usually make a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine to pay tribute to dead warriors.
Since being elected prime minister in December 2012, Abe visited the shrine only once in 2013, stressing it was an anti-war gesture.
The move, however, did not only spark protests from China and South Korea, but also notably alienated Japan's main ally - the United States. Since then Abe has only sent ritual offerings to the shrine, while first lady Akie Abe has reportedly visited the religious site.
The Yasukuni shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in 1869. It enshrines about two and half million civilians and government officials who died in wars between 1867 and 1951, as well as about 1,000 war criminals, 14 of which are considered to be A-Class, or those internationally acknowledged to have participated in a joint conspiracy to start and wage war.
Regular visits of Japanese officials to the shrine have been a contentious issue in diplomatic relations between Japan and its neighbors, who suffered from Japanese militarism.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
7 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
7 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A result
7 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga results
7 hours ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
7 hours ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
7 hours ago
-
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
7 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
7 hours ago -
6,000 French police to welcome Olympic torch amid bonus boost
7 hours ago -
Taiwan hit by several quakes, strongest reaching 6.1-magnitude
8 hours ago -
'Ballistic' Bairstow stars as Punjab pull off record T20 chase
8 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 2nd update
8 hours ago