Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on August 15 sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial site in the capital Tokyo, on the day Japan marked the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II.
The move comes as Yasukuni Shrine has long been seen as a divisive symbol in the region, as it honors convicted war criminals alongside those who died in Japan's wars.
According to officials, the offering was made instead of a personal visit, reflecting the new government's cautious diplomatic stance amid still-sensitive relations with neighboring countries.
Yasukuni Shrine, built in 1869, enshrines about 2.5 million people who died in Japan's wars since the Meiji era. Among them are 14 individuals convicted as Class-A war criminals after World War II, making the shrine a flashpoint in diplomatic tensions between Japan, China, and South Korea.
Previously, several Japanese prime ministers have paid respects at Yasukuni, drawing strong reactions from regional nations. Observers view Takaichi's offering this year as a balancing act between expressing traditional stances and avoiding unnecessary diplomatic friction.
