Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is considering shifting the date of a promised visit to a shrine honoring the war dead to avert conflict with Asian neighbors, media reported Sunday.
Taku Yamasaki, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and former Secretary-General Koichi Kato met with Koizumi Saturday evening and reportedly urged him to worship at Yasukuni before Aug. 15 -- the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender.
Yamasaki said after Saturday's meeting that he and Kato had told the prime minister that a 'soft-landing' would be necessary to avoid angering neighboring countries and allow the government to focus on reviving Japan's slumping economy.
Koizumi was likely to make a decision as early as Monday, the Asahi and Yomiuri newspapers said, without elaborating.
Koizumi has repeatedly stated his desire to go to the shrine on the symbolic day to honor the nation's war dead.
But in recent weeks he has wavered in the face of bitter protests by South Korea and China, which object to official visits to Yasukuni as the shrine was used during the early 20th century to whip up the militarist fervor that led to Japan's brutal wartime invasion of its Asian neighbors.
Through its embassy in Tokyo, China has unofficially asked Koizumi to delay any visit until at least Aug. 16th, the nationwide Yomiuri newspaper said Sunday.
The proposed visit has not only angered Beijing and Seoul, but also divided Koizumi's three-party coalition.
While the Buddhist-backed New Komeito has publicly urged the prime minister to reconsider, many LDP parliamentarians, as well as the party's main supporters, support the visit.
The debate has become a national obsession in recent weeks. Right-wing activists often gather at the shrine -- whose name means ``Peaceful Country'' -- to encourage Koizumi not to go back on his pledge, while pacifists and other groups are protesting against a visit.
Among the 2.5 million Japanese soldiers honored at Yasukuni are executed war criminals including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who led Japan during World War II.
(Chinadaily.com.cn 08/12/2001)
