Japan's new PM sends ritual offering to war-linked Yasukuni shrine

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni, a Shinto shrine in Tokyo viewed as a symbol of Japan's past militarism by its Asian neighbors.South Korea responded by calling the tree offering by the new Japanese leader disappointing and regrettable and urged Japanese leaders to squarely face history.The "masakaki" offering was made under Kishida's name as prime minister to celebrate the shrine's biannual festival held in the spring and autumn.Kishida, who became Japan's prime minister on Oct. 4, does not plan to visit the shrine during the two-day autumn festival…READ FULL ARTICLE