Koizumi: “I’ll Continue Paying Visit to Yasukuni Shrine”

Despite the neighboring countries’ criticism over Mr. Koizumi’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, on March 9 the Japanese prime minister reiterated his will to continue paying visits to Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial site for World War II and where “class A” criminals are enshrined together.

Mr. Koizumi said at the Upper House’s budget committee, “We should not forget that Japan’s prosperity today is based on the precious sacrifice of our precedents,” also he added, “I perform worship at the shrine with the thought that we should never go to war again.”

Over the criticism that his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine invokes repulsion in South Korea and China, Koizumi asserted, “It is a natural feeling for a citizen of Japan to present condolence to the war dead,” and, “It will not damage diplomatic relations with foreign countries.”

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com