安倍爲靖國神社供奉祭品
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sent a ritual offering to a Tokyo shrine that many of Japan's neighbors see as a symbol of the country's imperialist past.
Mr. Abe sent a traditional potted plant to the Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday, the first day of a three-day spring festival, officials at the shrine said.
The prime minister's offering is likely to upset many in China and South Korea, two main victims of Japan's pre-World War Two colonial aggression.
But the offering means Mr. Abe is likely to refrain from visiting the Shinto shrine, a move that would have drawn much harsher criticism.
The central Tokyo religious facility honors 2.5 million of Japan's war dead, including several convicted war criminals from World War Two.
Mr. Abe last visited the facility in 2013. He defended the move by saying it is natural for him to pay respects to the country's war dead日本首相安倍晉三向位於東京的靖國神社供奉祭品。日本很多鄰國將靖國神社視爲日本帝國主義歷史的象徵。
靖國神社的管理人員說，安倍晉三星期二將一株傳統的盆栽植物送到靖國神社。星期二是春季三天慶祝活動的第一天。
安倍此舉很可能會激怒中國和韓國。中韓兩國是二戰期間日本侵略的主要受害者。
但供奉祭品也意味着安倍很可能不會前往靖國神社進行參拜，而參拜靖國神社將招致嚴厲得多的批評。
位於東京市中心的靖國神社供奉着250萬日本戰爭死難者的靈位，包括幾名二戰戰犯。
安倍上次參拜靖國神社是在2013年。他辯解說，向本國的戰爭死難者表示敬意，對他而言是很自然的事。
