Cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers visits war-linked Yasukuni Shrine

TOKYO — A group of lawmakers from multiple parties in Japan has visited Yasukuni Shrine, the Shinto shrine in Tokyo that honors those who died in the country's wars, including figures regarded as senior war criminals after World War II.

According to initial reports, the visit was made by a cross-party group of lawmakers. Yasukuni has long been a point of contention in Japan's relations with its neighbors, particularly China and South Korea, because it honors wartime leaders as well as the war dead.

Details on the composition of the delegation, the specific timing and remarks made at the shrine have not been fully disclosed. The visit follows the periodic shrine visits by groups of Japanese lawmakers, which often draw attention from the region.