Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering to controversial Yasukuni Shrine as its spring festival began Tuesday under the nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

The masakaki tree offering to mark the start of the two-day festival was made under the prime minister's name.

It comes as Abe is asking people in Japan to refrain from unnecessary outings to curb COVID-19 infections. Last week he expanded the state of emergency to all 47 prefectures after his original declaration on April 7 targeted the nation's biggest urban areas.