A man claiming to be Chinese was arrested for throwing a black ink-like liquid on a curtain at one of the buildings of Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, the Metropolitan Police Department said.

Immigration authorities said the man, Hu Daping, 53, entered Japan on Saturday. He has told police he was traveling with family members.

Further details, such as a motive, were unclear, a police official said.

Part of a rectangular white cloth hanging across the front of one of the shrine's main buildings was marked with numerous black spots.

Neighboring countries see the shrine as a symbol of Japan's former militarism, since it honors several leaders convicted by an Allied tribunal as war criminals.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to the shrine Thursday, the anniversary of the end of World War II, but refrained from visiting in person.