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