The foreign ministry says that a visit by more than 100 Japanese lawmakers to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Friday was regrettable.
The shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, also pays homage to several Class-A war criminals, and has long been a source of friction between Japan and its Asian neighbors.
In a news release, the foreign ministry said the visit by the Japanese politicians is not conducive to positive developments in the region and will only serve to concern and upset Japan’s neighbors.
The foreign ministry urged the Japanese government and Japanese lawmakers to face the truth of Japan’s wartime history and take constructive steps to work with its Asian neighbors.
The Yasukuni Shrine began its autumn festival on Monday. It is expected that more politicians will visit the Shinto Shrine in Tokyo during the four-day event.