Japan's Koizumi Defends Visits to Yasukuni War Shrine

日本小泉为参拜靖-国神社辩护

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has defended his visits to a controversial Tokyo war shrine, amid media speculation he could make a final pilgrimage this month before leaving office.

Mr. Koizumi wrote in his weekly e-mail magazine today (Thursday) that he visits the Yasukuni shrine not to glorify war, but to pay his respects to Japanese who sacrificed their lives for their country. Among other war dead the shrine honors convicted war criminals.

The prime minister has visited the Yasukuni shrine five times since becoming taking office in 2001, drawing strong protests from Japan's Asian neighbors.Mr. Koizumi says he will step down in September, and Japanese media say he may visit Yasukuni again on August 15th, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.

日本首相小泉纯一郎为自己参拜备受争议的靖-国神社提出辩护。同时，媒体猜测小泉首相在卸任前，可能这个月会最后一次参拜靖-国神社。

小泉先生星期四在自己的每周电邮杂志中说，自己去靖-国神社参拜不是为美化战争，而是对为国家牺牲生命的日本人表达敬意。靖-国神社供奉的战争亡灵中也有战争罪犯。

日本首相小泉纯一郎2001年就任后，曾5次参拜靖-国神社，引起日本亚洲邻国的强烈抗议。小泉纯一郎表示，他将在9月卸任。日本媒体说，小泉也许会在8月15号再度参拜靖-国神社。8月15号是日本在第二次世界大战中投降的周年纪念日。