New Japan PM Fumio Kishida sends offering to controversial Yasukuni shrine

Yasukuni honours 2.5 million war dead, mostly Japanese, who have perished since the late 19th century.

Japan’s new prime minister on Sunday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni shrine that honours the war dead but is seen by neighbouring countries as a symbol of Tokyo’s past militarism.

Fumio Kishida sent the “masakaki” tree offering under his name as prime minister to celebrate the shrine’s biannual festival held in the spring and autumn, a spokeswoman for the shrine told AFP.

Two of Mr. Kishida’s ministers also offered sacred trees.