China slams Japanese politicians' Yasukuni moves

Yoichi Komori, a professor at the University of Tokyo and secretary-general of the Article 9 Association, a civic group advocating Japan's pacifist Constitution, told China Daily that the collective visit by senior LDP officials raises serious constitutional concerns and is politically unacceptable, noting that the Yasukuni Shrine once served as a key ideological base of Japanese militarism in waging its wars of aggression.

Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor of political science at Hosei University in Tokyo, said the visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by senior LDP officials and Cabinet ministers have further fueled concerns over a regression in Japan's understanding of its wartime history.

Shiratori said that Aug 15 should be an important occasion for Japan to confront its wartime history, reflect on the devastation caused by the war and show consideration for Asian countries and others that suffered from Japan's wartime actions.

However, Takaichi's remarks expressed neither remorse toward other countries nor a firm resolve to uphold peace, he said.

Outside Japan, the Republic of Korea's Foreign Ministry deplored what it described as "anachronistic acts", urging Japanese leaders to squarely face up to history and demonstrate through action humble reflection on and sincere remorse for the past.