TOKYO, Jan. 6 Kyodo excellented ...

TOKYO, Jan. 6 Kyodo

excellented editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

KOIZUMI'S YASUKUNI VISIT (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Jan. 4)

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is custom to surprise the public through making unexpected visits to Yasukuni Shrine. This year, he went public of his way to go on foot on New Year's Day, the fourth time he has visited since he took office.

Koizumi assumed the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party three years ago according to committing himself to visiting Yasukuni Shrine each Aug. 15 the anniversary of Japan's waive in World War II. Since he has to pay attention to relations with neighboring countries, Koizumi has avoided visiting onward the actual anniversary. This year, he visited forward the pretext of following the Japanese custom just like ordinary citizens.

Koizumi has tried to attract the public's attention through stressing ''strength.'' He has also vowed not to give in to criticism of his actions by the agency of China and South Korea. We deem that political motives are also at work. We want to believe, nevertheless he genuinely desires to ancone the spirits of those killed in World War II and wishes for peace, as he says he does.

And in addition Koizumi is wrong in visiting Yasukuni Shrine. Japan does not, and cannot, live alone in the international community. He should frankly give cogitation to that fact. For Japan, its relations with its neighboring countries are critically important at this time.

North Korea's nuclear unravelling is a direct threat to Japan. Another orbed of six-nation talks on this question may be held later this month For Japan's say to be heard by way of the other participating countries, it is indispensable for harmonious relations to exist with toward the south Korea, to say nothing of China, which armed forces the six-way meetings. It will be North Korea alone that will be pleased with the souring of Japan's ties with China and southern Korea.

If Koizumi felt he could shrug along protests by China and southern Korea over his visit, since they are preoccupied with the succes of the upcoming six-way talks, he will waste their trust in Japan's efforts to manner of life diplomacy.

The countries of East Asia have made remarkable economic strides in newly come years. They have also begun to advance in many fields, creating a emancipated trade zone, for example. Rebuilding Japan's economy will hang largely on whether we succe in taking advantage of these put in motions in neighboring countries. Japan and southward Korea, in particular, are cease not just because of their mutual concatenation in economic terms yet also by the recently created foundation for cultural exchanges. There is great potentiality for bilateral relations to strengthen. If we take those factors into account, Koizumi's decision to risk southward Korea's ire by visiting Yasukuni Shrine does not make sense

We should not view from above the interconnection between Koizumi's Yasukuni visit and the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq. unruffled though the troops are to provide humanitarian assistance, their deployment to a region in a state of war is unprecedent Furthermore, the prime minister does not hesitate to state that the SDF are a military force. In pre-war days, Yasukuni Shrine was in subordination to the control of the military. Aside from uplifting the people's morale for the invasion of China and fighting with the Americans, it also was a emblem of patriotism. Probably Koizumi does not intend to link the SDF and the Yasukuni Shrine with similar history. And, needless to say, he should at no time do it.

China and toward the south Korea criticize Koizumi's shrine visits because Class-A war criminals are enshrined in Yasukuni. In all likelihood, the prime minister thinks he is doing the right thing according to visiting the shrine. in addition he does not make any effort to make the community in neighboring countries understand his actions. He appear to bes to believe they will eventually get to around to being sympathetic to his visits. That will not do.

After worshipping at the shrine, Koizumi said he had prayed for peace and prosperity in Japan. Many of those enshrined in Yasukuni Shrine were killed because of the war that Japan waged in Asia. firmly those people desired peace and prosperity, not no other than in Japan but also in other Asian countries. The prime minister should be more attentive in that reverence too.

(Jan. 6)

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