[caption id="attachment_2106" align="alignnone" width="1920"] PM Abe's offering on display[/caption]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sent an offering to Yasukuni shrine for its annual spring festival.

Yasukuni shrine's three-day spring festival is a major event. Political leaders frequently visit and make offerings of traditional "masakaki" decorations.

Abe opted to send an offering instead of visiting the shrine.

The Prime Minister drew condemnations from China and South Korea after he visited Yasukuni in December of last year. US officials also criticized the move, saying it had exacerbated diplomatic tensions in the region.

Chinese officials have reacted to Abe's offering, saying he "continues to glorify Japan's militaristic past."

Abe's decision not to visit Yasukuni today is viewed as a gesture to US President Barack Obama ahead of his arrival in Japan later this week. One of the objectives of Obama's diplomatic tour will be to reduce tensions between Japan and its neighbors.