春季例行大祭的第一天，日本首相安倍晋三没有去参拜靖国神社，而是供奉了祭品。
Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has sent an offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, instead of visiting it at the start of its three-day spring festival.The move comes ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to Japan later this week.
It’s believed Abe decided not to worship the shrine during the spring festival, in a move to avoid provoking the US.
The Yasukuni Shrine is considered a symbol of Japanese militarism during the World War II. Fourteen convicted war criminals are among the millions of Japanese war dead honored at the shrine. Abe himself also visited Yasukuni on the first anniversary of the launch of his government on Dec. 26 2013. The December shrine visit triggered strong opposition worldwide.
The Chairman of Japan’s National Public Safety Commission and Internal Affairs Minister both visited the shrine this month.
