Japan's ruling party policy chief visits notorious Yasukuni shrine

TOKYO - The chairman of the Policy Research Council of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Koichi Hagiuda, visited the controversial Yasukuni shrine on Monday, the 77th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

Former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi also visited the notorious Shinto shrine seen by neighboring countries as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.

The shrine in central Tokyo has long-been a source of diplomatic friction with Japan's neighbors as it honors convicted war criminals together with the other war dead. Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals.

Visits and ritual offerings made in person or by proxy to the infamous shrine by Japanese leaders, officials and lawmakers have consistently sparked strong criticism from China, South Korea and other countries invaded by Japan before and during World War II.