Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Monday afternoon, two days before the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, amid strong domestic and international criticism.
Koizumi is the first prime minister in five years to visit the shrine, dedicated to 2.47 million war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals. Ryutaro Hashimoto made a self-proclaimed private visit in July 1996. No Japanese prime minister has made an Aug. 15 visit to the shrine since 1985.
Koizumi said he made the visit two days before the anniversary in an attempt to avoid further diplomatic tensions with China and South Korea.