Japan's Aso backs off call for emperor shrine visit

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso backed away on Tuesday from a remark that it would be appropriate for the emperor to visit a Tokyo war shrine, saying he was not calling for a visit at this time, Kyodo news agency reported.

Aso’s comment at the weekend that Emperor Akihito, son of wartime emperor Hirohito, should visit Yasukuni Shrine sparked criticism from South Korea, which along with China considers the shrine to be a symbol of Japan’s militaristic past.

Japan’s relations with Seoul and Beijing have been strained since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took office in 2001 and began annual visits to the shrine, where convicted war criminals are among those honoured.

"I have not called for the emperor to pay his respects at Yasukuni Shrine under current circumstances," Aso was quoted by Kyodo as telling reporters.

Aso, considered a contender to succeed Koizumi as prime minister when Koizumi’s term as party president ends in September, said on Saturday that it would be desirable for the emperor to also visit Yasukuni.

"From the viewpoint of the spirits of the war dead, they hailed ’banzai’ (’long life’) for the emperor," Aso said.

"None of them said ’long live the prime minister,’" Kyodo quoted Aso as saying in a speech in the city of Nagoya.

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South Korea, which was occupied by Japan from 1910 until 1945, said the comments were an attempt to justify Japan’s history of aggression.

"This government urges the person in charge of Japan’s diplomacy to immediately withdraw comments that disregard relationships with neighbouring countries," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Emperor Hirohito paid his respects at Yasukuni after the war but did not do so after the war criminals were enshrined there in 1978. Emperor Akihito has not visited the shine.

The liberal Asahi Shimbun suggested that Aso needed to take more care with his remarks.

"The foreign minister is the person in charge of Japan’s foreign policy," it said in an editorial. "However, Aso’s recent comments about Yasukuni raise doubts about whether he understands the responsibility and weight of that position."