Tokyo court dismisses suit against Koizumi's war shrine visit
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-26 13:32

A Tokyo court dismissed a suit seeking damages for visits by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara to a war shrine central to a row with China.

The Tokyo District Court also rejected a request to rule on constitutionality of their visits to Yasukuni shrine.

Some 1,000 people -- both Japanese citizens and relatives of South Korean war dead -- filed the suit, saying pilgrimages to the Yasukuni shrine violated the separation of religion and state ensured by the constitution.

Since taking office four years ago Tuesday, Koizumi has made an annual pilgrimage to the Shinto sanctuary dedicated to Japan's 2.5 million war dead including 14 convicted top war criminals.

Koizumi's visits to the shrine have infuriated Asian countries invaded by Japan, with China refusing any visits by Koizumi.

Ishihara, a former novelist known for his hawkish remarks, visited the shrine in 2000 and 2001 on the August 15 anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.