The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out two appeals challenging the constitutionality of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's controversial visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
The Supreme Court will not rule on the suits, filed between 2001 and 2003 by relatives of war dead and religious leaders, according to court spokesman Katsunori Fujioka. The decision is final, he said, refusing to elaborate on the reasons for the decision.
The plaintiffs claimed Koizumi's visits to the shrine violated the constitutional separation of religion and state.
The plaintiffs also alleged his visit caused them emotional distress.
Both the Takamatsu and Tokyo high courts skirted the constitutionality issue altogether in rulings last year, saying Koizumi's visit did not compromise the freedoms of the plaintiffs, so they were not entitled to claim damages.
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