Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, in a reversal of her earlier remarks, told the Diet Monday that further revision of controversial history textbooks that have already been approved by education authorities will be difficult.
Meanwhile, in the same Lower House Budget Committee session, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made it clear he will visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, "as prime minister."
"No matter if I will come under criticism from other nations, I must pay my respects to those who were forced to go to war for their families and for the country . . . and make it clear that (Japan) will never again wage war," Koizumi said.