Anger as Koizumi visits war shrine

Koizumi's visit had originally been scheduled for the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender

By staff and wires

TOKYO, Japan -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's unexpectedly early visit to a Tokyo war shrine Monday failed to stave off an angry reaction from Japan's neighbors, especially from China.

In an attempt to dampen the backlash, Koizumi avoided making the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15 -- the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.

But China's Foreign Ministry still denounced his visit, saying it suggested a lack of Japanese repentance for wartime aggression.

And in South Korea, 20 men chopped off the tips of their little fingers in a bloody protest just before his visit.

Koizumi, who was led to the shrine's altar by a silk-clad priest, had repeatedly said since taking office in April that he would like to visit the shrine on Wednesday's anniversary.

But he decided to bring forward the visit because of outrage expressed by Japan's neighbors and concern among members of his own ruling coalition.

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Many Asians see the shrine as a monument to militarism and to those convicted of war crimes during Japanese occupation of much of Asia.

To soothe fears among some Japanese that official visits violate the separation of religion and state, Koizumi also did not undergo traditional Shinto purification rituals at the altar, The Associated Press reported.

'Sacrifice'

"I want to express my deepest condolences to all the people who sacrificed their lives in the war," he said in a statement just before the visit.

"Our country should never again walk the path to war."

He said he was confident his decision to visit the shrine would "be understood by the Japanese and by our neighboring nations" and said he wants to meet with Asian leaders to discuss relations.

The shrine is not merely for those who died in World War II -- the souls worshipped there include virtually all Japanese war dead dating back to the late 1800s.

But politicians' visits to the shrine, part of Japan's Shinto religion, are particularly controversial because war criminals -- including executed former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who led Japan during World War II -- are among the 2.5 million Japanese soldiers honored there.

Asked why he had changed his mind about visiting on August 15, Koizumi said: "As August 15 drew closer, there were those at home and abroad who misunderstood my true intentions.

"I want from the bottom of my heart to maintain friendly ties with China, South Korea and other Asian nations. It became evident that a visit on the 15th would be interpreted in an opposite way and that is not what I desire."

That did not appear to placate some opponents.

A source close to the prime minister revealed his change in plans earlier in the day amid increasing agitation among Japan's Asian neighbors.

Two wreaths donated by Koizumi were laid at the shrine Monday, as a prelude to his visit.

Some members of Koizumi's administration had argued that his visit would only meaningful if it was conducted on the anniversary of the surrender.

'Insult'

They said any other date would be an insult to the veterans and their survivors - a viewpoint that appeared to be shared by much of the Japanese public.

According to a survey conducted over the weekend by NTV, a major television network, nearly 50 percent of those polled supported Koizumi visiting the shrine on the anniversary.

Those against represented less than 40 percent, according to the poll results, which were announced Monday.

The loudest protests against the visit have come from South Korea, China and other Asian countries that were victims of Japanese aggression prior to and during World War II.

A small group of Koreans held a peaceful demonstration near Parliament Monday.

The uproar has raised concerns that the visit could have a negative impact on Japan's diplomatic standing in the region, and cast a shadow over a visit to China by Koizumi in October, when he is to attend a summit meeting.

It has also cast a shadow over next year's soccer World Cup, which Japan and South Korea are to jointly host.