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| Tensions Mount over Shrine as Anniversary Approaches |
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Tensions mounted Sunday over a war shrine reviled by critics for glorifying Japanese militarism, with South Korea warning Japan's prime minister not to visit there on the upcoming anniversary of Tokyo's surrender in World War II. Meanwhile, protesters rallied against it for the third straight day in the Japanese capital. China and South Korea meanwhile denied a news report that they had agreed to accept visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine by future Japanese leaders if current Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stays away for the rest of his term. Koizumi intends to step down next month, but is widely expected to make a pilgrimage to Yasukuni Shrine tomorrow, the anniversary of the war's end in Asia. Visiting on such a sensitive date will worsen already strained relations with Japan's neighbors, which have repeatedly demanded that Koizumi halt his visits. The view was echoed Sunday evening by about 1,000 anti-Yasukuni protesters who marched within sight of the shrine's towering Shinto gate chanting for Japan to more sincerely repent for its invasion and occupation of Asian lands in the early 20th century. The rally followed similar but smaller candlelight vigils on Friday and Saturday and drew demonstrators from Taiwan, South Korea and all over Japan. "This is important to show other Japanese people that Yasukuni Shrine is a symbol of war and aggression," said protester Emiko Suyehiro, 42, who has visited the grounds three times. "It completely glorifies the war." Yasukuni honors Japan's 2.5 million war dead, including war criminals executed after World War II. The shrine played a high-profile role in promoting wartime nationalism, with Japanese soldiers commonly pledging to fight to the death with the promise to "meet at Yasukuni." It also hosts a museum attempting to justify Japan's militarist past. Koizumi has worshipped there five times since taking office in 2001, and has dropped repeated hints he will go again tomorrow. South Korean officials warned Sunday that Seoul will file an immediate protest to Tokyo if Koizumi goes. South Korea plans to summon the Japanese ambassador in Seoul and send its ambassador in Tokyo to Japan's Foreign Ministry. Kyodo News service reported separately Sunday that China and South Korea would accept one visit a year from future prime ministers if Koizumi stays away. But a Chinese Embassy spokesman denied the report as "totally groundless," Kyodo said. South Korea also dismissed the report as unfounded. In Tokyo, Saturday's marchers held candles and enlarged photos of Japanese war atrocities, banging on drums and chanting through loudspeakers. (China Daily August 14, 2006)
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