Japan Minister, Ex-Premier Visit War Shrine

Tokyo, Japan’s farm minister Seiichi Ota and former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited a controversial war shrine as the nation marked the anniversary of its World War II surrender.

While serving as top leader, Koizumi outraged Asian neighbours by praying at the Yasukuni shrine, which honours some 2.5 million Japanese war dead including 14 leading war criminals.

Koizumi was the first sitting Prime Minister in 21 years to visit the shrine on the anniversary in 2006.

But incumbent Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who has placed a priority on mending tense relations with China and South Korea, does not plan to visit the shrine on the anniversary.

“Please look at my actions in the past,” he has told reporters after being pressed if he would pray at the shrine on the 63rd anniversary of Japan’s surrender.

Justice Minister Okiharu Yasuoka has said he would visit the shrine later today.

Passions about the war run high in East Asia, with many Chinese and Koreans resentful over Japanese atrocities.

Fukuda’s predecessor Shinzo Abe, despite his conservative views on history, stayed away from the shrine last year while trying to repair ties with China and South Korea.

Tags: TOKYO