Lawmakers visit shrine

Japanese lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine, a symbol of Japan's past militarism yesterday, but their ranks were smaller than at the same time last year and included no Cabinet ministers, the shrine said.

A spokesman for the shrine in central Tokyo said 67 lawmakers paid their respects at Yasukuni's autumn festival, down from 84 members of parliament who visited last year. No cabinet ministers were seen.

Current Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who advocates friendlier ties with other Asian countries, has been clearer in ruling out visits to the shrine.

(China Daily 10/19/2007 page10)