Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday that a reported memorandum saying the late Emperor Hirohito was upset about Yasukuni Shrine's decision to enshrine 14-Class A war criminals will not affect his contentious visits.
When asked if the reported note will affect his decision on whether to visit the shrine before he steps down in September, Koizumi replied: "No, it won't. (Whether to visit Yasukuni) is up to each person. It is a personal matter."
He refused to give a direct answer to repeated questions of whether he will go to Yasukuni one last time, answering with the same line: "It's a personal matter."