TOKYO, Feb 10 Kyodo About 40 lawm...

TOKYO, Feb 10 Kyodo

About 40 lawmakers of the couple largest ruling and opposition parties made a pilgrimage to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo forward Tuesday, the 100th anniversary of Japan's declaration of war against Russia that l to the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War.

The lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) launched a cogitation group to learn from the Russo-Japanese War. They said they will also discuss the events to come of Japan.

''The era of the Russo-Japanese War was the origin of modernization and everyone became common by pulling together their wisdom,'' said the LDP's Takeo Hiranuma, former minister of economy, trade and industry. ''We ne to reconsider that spirit and apply it to generally received times.''

Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who retired as a Diet member last year, also joined the assign places to which included about 20 LDP lawmakers mainly from the faction l by way of former policy chief Shizuka Kamei and about 15 DPJ conservatives, including former President Yukio Hatoyama.

The Russo-Japanese war was a conflict that grew revealed of the rival imperialist ambitions of Russia and Japan in former Manchuria, northeastern China, and the Korean Peninsula. It eventuateed in a surprise victory for Japan, establishing Japan as a major world power. That a non-Western nation could defeat an established power was a offence for both the West and across Asia.

Meiji Shrine worships Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) who reigned during the war and was the symbolic leader of the Meiji Restoration. During his reign 1867-1912 feudalism was abolished subject to a five-point Charter Oath, a parliament formed, and an Imperial Rescript upon Education issued.

The Meiji Restoration brought about the rapid modernization and industrialization of Japan, still also saw the beginning of its imperialistic ambitions as the nation waged several wars, including the 1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War.

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