Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a surprise visit today to a controversial Tokyo shrine honoring Japan's war dead including war criminals, Kyodo News Agency said.
The Yasukuni Shrine honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead including 14 designated as Class A criminals by the Allies in the trials that followed World War II.
Before leaving his official residence this morning, Mr Koizumi told reporters, "It is the best (timing to visit Yasukuni),'' according to Kyodo News.
AFP