Tomiichi Murayama, the first Japanese prime minister to formally admit Japan's responsibility in World War II, expressed outrage that words from his 1995 statement of apology were used to justify Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, a leading Japanese newspaper reported on Wednesday.

"I don't know why Koizumi had to go and visit Yasukuni, and I am baffled by the extent to which he quoted parts of my statement, " Murayama told the mass-circulated Asahi Shimbun on Monday at his home in Oita, southwestern Japan.

Koizumi, just before visiting Yasukuni Shrine on Monday afternoon, issued a statement that included "following a mistaken national policy during a certain period in the past, Japan imposed, through its colonial rule and aggression, immeasurable ravages and suffering, particularly on the people of the neighboring countries in Asia."

Murayama, former leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), served as Japanese prime minister in a coalition government when Japan marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the war.

The statement Murayama issued on August 15, 1995, read: "Japan, following a mistaken national policy... and through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations."

Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines 14 Class A war criminals along with 2.47 million Japanese war dead and is considered a symbol of Japan's military aggression, drew strong criticism both at home and abroad.

"Koizumi is contradicting himself. My statement has become a mere composition and this is shameful," Murayama was quoted as saying.

The former Japanese prime minister said he was also disturbed by Koizumi's omission of the "heartfelt apology" to people of other Asian countries, which Murayama had insisted on including in his 1995 statement.

Murayama's expression of "remorse" for "Japan's colonial rule and aggression" has since become the Japanese government's official stance concerning the country's military past.

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