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)
