Abe, a nationalist who advocates revising Japan's pacifist constitution, has always wanted to visit Yasukuni as prime minister, but he still surprised some analysts, who thought he might take a pragmatic approach to leadership that focused on reviving the economy and trying to avoid alienating neighbors.
The United States expressed disappointment “that Japan's leadership has taken an action that will exacerbate tensions with Japan's neighbors.”
TV cameras followed Abe inside the shrine property, but were not allowed in the inner shrine.
The prime minister was dressed formally in black jacket with tails and striped, gray pants.
There is no fixed dress code for shrine visits, but conservative lawmakers usually dress formally to be polite and dignified.
Abe said criticism that visits to Yasukuni are an act of worshipping war criminals is based on a misunderstanding.
