JAPAN: The Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Junichiro Koizumi, has angered Asian nations, including China and World Cup co-hosts, South Korea, by making a surprise visit to a controversial war shrine.
A grim faced Mr Koizumi, dressed in formal morning dress of black tailed jacket, grey striped trousers and black tie, paid homage yesterday at the Yasukuni shrine that commemorates war criminals. He stressed his visit was to express his hope that "we will never have another war". The prime minister has spent months repairing the damage caused after he became the first Japanese leader in five years to visit the shrine last August.
That visit sparked furious protests from neighbouring Asian countries invaded by Japan before and during the second World War and who remain concerned at the possibility of a resurgence of the nationalism that preceded the war.
"I do not wish to again cause anxiety in Japan and abroad or a sense of caution by visiting the shrine on or around the time of the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II," Mr Koizumi said in a statement issued after what was described as a visit based on his personal beliefs.
"It is important to maintain our resolve to preserve peace into the future and never repeat the tragedy of war." Hours after his visit, South Korea and China expressed anger. "Our government expresses deep regret toward Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which represents Japan's militarism," South Korea's foreign ministry said.
The Korea-Japan World Cup has been seen as a key opportunity for the two historical rivals to bury animosities. But the shrine visit comes as a blow to those hopes.
The Chinese foreign ministry said "the Chinese side resolutely opposes Japanese leaders paying homage to the Yasukuni shrine in any form and at any time".
"The Japanese action can only damage the Japanese image itself and that makes it more difficult for Japan to win Asian peoples' trust on historical problems," it said.
China's state-run Xinhua news agency said: "Koizumi's visit is likely to anger Japan's Asian neighbours, which suffered under Japan's brutal aggression during World War II."
In Hong Kong, activists demanding an apology over Japan's invasion of China, said they would protest against the visit in front of the Japanese consulate.