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It was the first visit to the Shinto-style war shrine by a sitting Japanese prime minister since Junichiro Koizumi went in 2006 to mark the end of World War II. Abe previously visited Yasukuni while out of office.

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.

“Unfortunately, a Yasukuni visit has largely turned into a political and diplomatic issue,” he said. “It is not my intention to hurt the feelings of the Chinese and Korean people.”

He said he believes Japan must never wage war again: “This is my conviction, based on the severe remorse for the past.”

His statements failed to assuage concerns.