Controversial pop star Justin Bieber offered an apology on Wednesday after he published a picture on social networks during his visit to a Tokyo shrine which is involved in a bitter international dispute in which China argues that the people honored by the shrine are war criminals from World War II.
The 20-year-old Canadian published an image captioned "Thank you for your blessings," however, shortly after it was deleted but not before it was seen by the media, generating controversy in South Korea and China.
The shrine honors 14 Japanese leaders condemned as war criminals and fallen Japanese soldiers, according to Reuters. Chinese leaders consider visits to the Yasukuni shrine similar to the visits of German leaders to Hitler's bunker.
Through his Instagram account, Bieber offered apologies for any offenses to his Asia fans.
"To anyone I have offended I am extremely sorry. I love you China and I love you Japan," he wrote.
On his part, Qin Gang, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Relations of China, said that he hoped that Bieber learned something from his visit.
"I hope this Canadian singer, after visiting the Yasukuni shrine, understands the militaristic history of Japana," said Qin, quoted by Reuters.
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