Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual "masakaki" offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, the first day of its autumn festival, Kyodo News and Jiji Press reported. She made the offering in her capacity as prime minister, Kyodo and Jiji reported, following the practice of her predecessors, Kyodo reported.

Takaichi is unlikely to visit the shrine during the three-day festival, a source close to her said, according to Kyodo. Jiji reported that she is expected to skip a visit during the festival, which runs through Monday.

The shrine honors Japan's war dead along with leaders convicted as war criminals after World War II, Kyodo and Jiji reported. China and South Korea regard it as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, Kyodo and Jiji reported. Japan invaded large parts of China before World War II and colonized the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945, Kyodo reported. Past visits by Japanese politicians have drawn harsh criticism from neighboring countries, Kyodo reported.

Takaichi, a conservative, routinely visited the shrine before becoming prime minister on Oct. 21 last year, including while serving as a Cabinet minister, Kyodo and Jiji reported. She has not visited since taking office, and did not go during the spring festival in April or on Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender, Jiji reported. On Aug. 15, she prayed toward the shrine from near the venue of the national memorial ceremony, Kyodo and Jiji reported.

Jiji reported that she appears to be putting a priority on relations with China, which have been strained by her remarks on a possible Taiwan emergency, and with South Korea, with which ties have been improving.

Cabinet minister Minoru Kiuchi visited the shrine on Saturday, Kyodo and Jiji reported. "I offered my heartfelt condolences and paid homage to the spirits of heroes who gave their precious lives for the nation and renewed my pledge to renounce war," Kiuchi said after the visit, according to Kyodo. Lower house Speaker Eisuke Mori and upper house President Masakazu Sekiguchi also sent offerings, Kyodo and Jiji reported. A cross-party group of lawmakers plans to visit on Monday, Kyodo reported.

The last visit by a sitting prime minister was by Shinzo Abe, Takaichi's political mentor, in December 2013, Kyodo reported.

What we know: Takaichi sent an offering to Yasukuni on Saturday and is expected to stay away during the festival.
What we don't: How China and South Korea will respond to the offering and to Kiuchi's visit.