Koizumi set to visit war shrine: LDP official<\/p>\n
TOKYO (Reuters): Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit a
\nshrine for Japan's war dead that also contains souls of convicted
\nwar criminals, but may avoid the anniversary of Japan's World War
\nII surrender, a senior ruling party official said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The popular Koizumi has been under heavy pressure from China
\nand South Korea, both victims of Japan's wartime aggression, to
\ncall off his planned visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the visit to Yasukuni will certainly be made and I
\nthink it should be done,\" Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
\nSecretary General Taku Yamasaki told a Fuji Television talkshow.<\/p>\n
Koizumi's plans to visit the Shinto shrine, dedicated to
\nJapan's 2.5 million war dead since the 19th century, on the
\nanniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15 have
\nmet angry criticism from neighboring Asian countries.<\/p>\n
China and the two Koreas have strongly protested.<\/p>\n
The shrine also contains the spirits of wartime military
\nleaders convicted as war criminals for their roles in Japan's
\ninvasion of Asia in the 1930s and 1940s.<\/p>\n
Koizumi has said he would decide on whether to make the visit
\nafter giving it \"mature consideration\".<\/p>\n
Yamasaki said the prime minister should try not to antagonize
\nJapan's Asian neighbors.<\/p>\n
\"I believe (Koizumi) should make maximum efforts not to
\nundermine relations with neighboring countries,\" Yamasaki said on
\nFuji Television.<\/p>\n
He did not rule out the possibility that Koizumi might visit
\nthe shrine on a day other than Aug. 15, which, besides being the
\nanniversary of Japan's surrender, is also South Korea's
\nLiberation Day, celebrated to mark the end of Japan's 35-year
\noccupation of the Korean peninsula.<\/p>\n
\"As for how it can be done, we will give consideration to
\nother countries. I believe (Koizumi) will pay a visit in such a
\nmanner that it would not violate the Constitution,\" Yamasaki
\nsaid, referring to the constitutionally mandated separation of
\nchurch and state.<\/p>\n
If the prime minister does choose to visit the Shinto shrine
\non Aug. 15, Yamasaki said Koizumi could issue a statement along
\nthe lines of one issued by then prime minister Tomiichi Murayama
\nin 1995.<\/p>\n
\"So far (the government) has indicated its view on history by
\nway of a comment by Mr Murayama. I think there could also be a
\nKoizumi comment,\" Yamasaki said.<\/p>\n
Naoto Kan, secretary general of the main opposition Democratic
\nParty, criticized Koizumi's stance.<\/p>\n
\"He is unqualified to be a person in charge of foreign policy
\nif he believes it is sufficient to think what to do after...
\nvarious (problems) occur,\" said Kan, who appeared in the same
\ntalkshow.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 15, 1995, Murayama officially apologized for Japan's
\npast acts of aggression and colonialism against its Asian
\nneighbors, 50 years after Japan surrendered in World War II.<\/p>\n
In the landmark statement Murayama said \"Japan, following a
\nmistaken national policy, ... caused tremendous damage and
\nsuffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those
\nof Asian nations.\"<\/p>\n
Murayama called the Japanese aggression an \"irrefutable facts
\nof history,\" while offering remorse and \"my heartfelt apology.\"<\/p>\n
Former prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto made what he called a
\nprivate visit on his birthday in July 1996 but still infuriated
\nChina and other neighbors.<\/p>",
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