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From the linked Japan Times article:

In a move expected to exacerbate already strained Sino-Japanese ties, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi went Monday to Yasukuni Shrine, the contentious Shinto site that honors the nation’s war dead and 14 Class-A war criminals.

Koizumi has kept his pledge to visit the shrine at least once a year since taking office in April 2001, despite repeated protests from China and South Korea, which regard the shrine as a symbol of Japan’s Shinto-inspired militarism through the 1930s and 1940s.

Koizumi however insists he only wants to honour the millions of Japanese killed in the war and to pray for peace. Japan is doing really well at annoying its neighbours including approving right-wing textbooks for junior high school students which gloss over Japan`s militarist past. I`ve found a website which has translations of the textbook approved.

Further reading:

In defence of Yasukuni Shrine
About Yasakuni Shrine
Koizumi`s site
Yasukuni and Donuts

Technorati Tags: Japan, Osaka, Asia, Quaisi, Kansai, Expat, Yasukuni, Shrine, Koizumi, Textbook