Group of over 100 Japan lawmakers visit war-linked Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of more than 100 Japanese lawmakers on Friday visited Yasukuni, a Shinto shrine in Tokyo regarded as a symbol of Japan's past militarism by its Asian neighbors, for its spring festival, but no Cabinet ministers were among them.Hidehisa Otsuji of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and head of the group told a press conference that they prayed for world peace, saying it is "on a precipice" amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Otsuji said he is thankful Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a ritual offering to the shrine on Thursday, the starting day of the annual festival.Yasuk…READ FULL ARTICLE