Spokesman acknowledges Japan PM's prayer note sent to temple ceremony honoring war criminals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Japan's top government spokesman has acknowledged that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier this year sent a note to a temple ceremony honoring hundreds of World War II-era war criminals that praised their contributions to the country.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that Abe send the note to a ceremony held April 29 at the Koyasan temple in central Japan, but in his capacity as head of the ruling party, not as prime minister.
Suga was responding to a newspaper report that Abe's message, which was read out loud at the ceremony, said the war criminals "sacrificed their souls to become the foundation of their country."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The revelation could worsen Japan's ties with China, which sees honoring war criminals as a lack of remorse by Tokyo over wartime aggression.