Japanese PM to Quit Shintoists' League After Controversial Remarks

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said Thursday he will stay away from Shintoists' League for Political Studies, a group affiliated with the Association of Shinto Shrines, while serving as Japan's premier, after drawing strong criticism over remarks he made at a meeting of the group earlier in the week.

"I will take time off from groups while I hold this position (of prime minister), because I can't

attend them anyway," Mori told reporters.

It was at a meeting of the league Monday that Mori said that Japan is a divine country with the

emperor at its center.

Mori had said he saw no need to quit the group on Wednesday night, but he changed his mind

after Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki told him he should consider his position as prime

minister and decide what to do to "avoid misunderstandings," Japanese government officials

said.

The "divine nation" remarks were for many a disturbing echo of Japan's nationalist fervor before

and during World War II, and drew furious responses from the opposition and disapproval from

some members of his own cabinet.

The opposition parties said Mori's remarks run counter to the principles of democracy and the

separation of politics and religion as enshrined in Japan's Constitution.

Mori apologized in the Diet (parliament) on Wednesday over the remarks.

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