(VOVworld) - 110 Japanese lawmakers visited the controversial Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on Friday at the start of the four-day autumn festival. The visitors included members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi also announced her plan to visit the shrine during the festival.

The same day, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent “masakaki” tree – a holy plant in the Japanese culture - in a ritual offering to Yasukuni shrine, according to the shrine’s managers. Abe is currently in Italy for the 10^th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 10) until Saturday.