Japan`s Prime Minister Koizumi Juichiro Worshipped in Yaskuni Temple

Japan`s Prime Minister Koizumi Juichiro paid his reverence to the name tablets of the war criminals of the 2nd Word War in the Yaskuni temple at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 13.

The worship of the Japan`s Prime Minister in the shrine was the first time since the former Prime Minister Tanaka Yashiro in 1985.

Although Mr. Koizumi identified himself as the Prime Minister in the visitor registration, considering the principle of separation of the politics and religion, he did not follow the Shinto ritual nor clarify whether his visit is a public worship or a private.

At the previous statement, Mr. Koizumi revealed that he has reminded that the peace and the prosperity of Japan was built on the sacrifice of the war victims who had believed in the nation`s future and, if he explained his conviction thoroughly, the people of Japan and it`s frienly nations would understand his intention to the worship of the Yaskuni temple on Aug 15.

Considering the protest of Korea and China, Mr. Koizumi added that he would like to explain his conviction and to share the opinions for the peaceful development of the Asia-Pacific in the future with Korea and China.

Japan`s Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro had repeatedly emphasized his plan to pay the reverence in the Yaskuni temple on Aug 15, but accepting the demand of the China to worship in the shrine avoiding the day, he paid his reverence one day before.

Shim Kyu-Sun ksshim@donga.com