More than 100 Japanese lawmakers today paid homage at the Yasukuni war shrine, risking fresh anger from Asian neighbours that were victims of Tokyo's 20th century aggression, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began a 10-day diplomatic push.
A cross-section of parliamentarians visited the shrine in central Tokyo as part of the spring festival, an AFP journalist witnessed.
A total of 106 lawmakers were there, the group said, however no cabinet ministers were seen among them.
The shrine honours those who fought and died for Japan, but also includes a number of senior military and political figures convicted of the most serious war crimes.
"I feel very grateful anew that we have maintained peace for 70 years," said Hidehisa Otsuji, a lawmaker with the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who leads the group. "The souls (of the dead) must also be pleased with this."
The number of lawmakers who visited the shrine was lower than at both the spring and the autumn festivals last year, Otsuji said, citing busy schedules due to upcoming local elections.
Last year, three conservative female ministers visited the shrine during its autumn festival, but there was no indication on whether or not they would go this time. Seiichi Eto, a special adviser to Abe, went on Tuesday.
China and South Korea see the shrine as a symbol of what they say is Japan's unwillingness to repent for its aggressive warring. The United States tries to discourage visits, which it views as unnecessarily provocative.
Seoul was quick to condemn Wednesday's outing.
"We can't help expressing deep disappointment and regret over the visit by leading Japanese lawmakers to Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's colonial aggression and the aggressive war," a statement from the South Korean foreign ministry said.
"The fact that leading Japanese figures continue to send offerings or visit the shrine, the symbol of Japan's past colonial aggression, 70 years after the end of the war illustrates how Japan is still unable to face its history properly."
Abe, who has not visited since December 2013, sent a symbolic offering of a small tree on Tuesday.
