TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru made a ritual “masakaki” tree offering at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Thursday, the start of its three-day autumn festival.

He plans not to visit the Shinto shrine during the festival, according to government officials.

The shrine is regarded by neighboring countries as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism as it honors Class-A war criminals along with the war dead.

South Korea protested the ritual offering.

Ishiba is believed to have never made masakaki offerings at the shrine prior to becoming prime minister on Oct. 1.

He followed the practice of his predecessor, Fumio Kishida, who made masakaki offerings for the shrine’s spring and autumn festivals and “tamagushi” ritual offerings as chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on the Aug. 15 anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II during his tenure.

Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi of the LDP visited Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday. She told reporters that she paid a visit as an individual.

A suprapartisan group of lawmakers who support going to Yasukuni Shrine postponed their visit given that the campaigning is underway for the Oct. 27 general election.

House of Councillors lawmaker Masahisa Sato of the LDP made a visit representing the group, saying, “I visited the shrine with the solemn feeling of offering my sincere condolences.”

JIJI Press