4 Japanese Cabinet Ministers Pay Visit to Yasukuni Shrine

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 15, 2003

4 Japanese Cabinet Ministers Pay Visit to Yasukuni Shrine

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Japan's four cabinet ministers Friday visited Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 notorious Class-A war criminals who were held responsible for the country's aggression war against Asian neighbors.

According to Kyodo News, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the shrine on January 14 and has no plan to do so again this year. He has visited it three times since becoming prime minister in 2001.

The four are Yoshitada Konoike, minister in charge of disaster prevention, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshiyuki Kamei, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma, and National Public Safety Commission Chairman Sadakazu Tanigaki.

Seven ministers, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, were quoted by Kyodo as saying that they have no intention to visit the shrine this year.

Class-A war criminals from World War II were added to the list of the enshrined at the shrine in 1978. It is regarded as a symbol of Japanese militarism.

Visits by Japanese leaders to the shrine have been strongly denounced by many Asian countries, including China and South Korea, which severely suffered from the aggression.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Chinese Historians Condemn Koizumi's Shrine Visit

Japanese PM Sued by Mass of Chinese, S. Korea & Japanese People

Koizumi Plans to Visit Yasukuni Shrine Every Year

DPRK's Kim Jong Il Elected Member of Parliament ( 2 Messages)

Main Party of China's First Euthanasia Lawsuit Dies ( 2 Messages)

For Whom Does Jackie Chan Feel Pity and Shed Tears? ( 5 Messages)

News Analysis: Bush's Political Fortune to Rise or Fall? ( 4 Messages)

Japan to Be Restored as China's Biggest Tourism Source ( 3 Messages)