Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Keiji Furuya, state minister in charge of the abduction issue, paid a visit Sunday to war-linked Yasukuni Shrine as it kicked off its spring festival, tempting the ire of Japan's neighbors.
Aso, who doubles as finance minister, bowed at the worship hall and left without responding to questions from reporters.
The former prime minister is the third member of the Cabinet known to have visited the Tokyo shrine since nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in December.