JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday.

The offering by the prime minister comes as Japan is observing the 74th anniversary of its surrender in World War II.

The Japanese leader, however, is unlikely to visit the notorious shrine in person in light of improving regional relations.

The same likely goes for the majority of his cabinet ministers, sources with knowledge of the matter have said.

The controversial Shinto shrine, seen as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism, has long been a source of diplomatic friction with Japan’s neighbors as it honors convicted war criminals together with the war dead.

Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from WWII.

Visits and ritual offerings made in person or by proxy to the infamous shrine by Japanese leaders and officials have consistently sparked strong criticism and hurts the feelings of China and South Korea and other countries brutalized by Japan during the WWII.

Abe has sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni during its spring and autumn festivals every year since he launched his current administration in 2012.

The Japanese prime minister last visited the controversial shrine in person in December 2013, which was strongly condemned by China and South Korea.

However, Japanese Emperor Naruhito on Thursday expressed his “deep remorse” over Japan’s wartime acts.

The remarks were made in Naruhito’s first appearance at an annual ceremony to mourn the lives lost during the war.

(Xinhua)