Shiozaki says Abe sent offering to Yasukuni in 'private capacity'

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said Tuesday Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent an offering to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine in late April in his "private capacity" and the Japanese government therefore had no comment.

Shiozaki told a press conference that politicians in any country hold positions as private citizens. "This is a matter that concerns the thoughts and faith of the prime minister as a private individual, so we would like to refrain from commenting from the government's standpoint," he said. On media reports that Abe used the title "prime minister" in sending the offering, Shiozaki repeated the government's official view that using one's title does not negate one's private capacity.