Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 13, backtracking on his vow to make the visit Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. Although he signed his name and title in the visitors' register, Koizumi would not say whether his visit to the shrine for the war dead was official or private.

I was disappointed with his decision. I had hoped he would reject foreign interference in domestic affairs and end, once and for all, a 20-year-old diplomatic abnormality. However, since Koizumi's Yasukuni visit is now "fait accompli," the government should weigh the merits and demerits and formulate future strategies accordingly.

A positive aspect of the affair was that Japan won a 60 percent victory in the dispute. Japan's 16th-century strategist Takeda Shingen used to say he favored a 60 percent or 70 percent win in battles. He said an 80 percent victory was dangerous and 90 percent victory was likely to be a forerunner of a disastrous defeat.