August 15th is an important day in Japan, too, of course,... as the anniversary of its defeat by the Allies in World War Two and the loss of its empire.<br />Earlier today, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine... to honor the war dead.<br /> Abe didn't go in person, but sent the offering with his special adviser Masahiko Shibayama.<br />The shrine is controversial because it also honors Class A war criminals.<br />Paying tribute there is seen in Korea and China as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, but Abe has sent an offering every year since he took office in 2012.<br />The South Korean foreign ministry today expressed "deep concerns" over the leaders of the Japanese government and parliament paying tribute to a shrine that glorifies Japan's history of aggression. <br />
