As many people both at home and abroad waited with bated breath, the 60th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender came and went Monday with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi not visiting Yasukuni Shrine.

The prime minister kept mum in the evening when asked why he did not go, but the decision was apparently made to avoid further damage to his poor record in the realm of diplomatic affairs ahead of the Sept. 11 general election, observers said.

Koizumi did not state clearly why he did not make the visit on the commemorative date, but earlier in the day issued a statement of apology for past aggression by Japan.