Kan's Cabinet members not to visit Yasukuni on Aug. 15 war anniv.+

TOKYO, Aug. 10 Kyodo - Prime Minister Naoto Kan and all of his ministers have expressed their intention not to visit Yasukuni Shrine on the Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of World War II, out of consideration for Asian victims of Japan's past militarism.

Kan reiterated his intention Tuesday not to visit the Shinto shrine in Tokyo,
which honors Japan's war dead along with war criminals, as long as he is in
office. Past visits to Yasukuni by some prime ministers triggered fierce
criticism from neighboring countries, most notably China and South Korea.
''I clearly stated my position'' on the issue after assuming office, Kan said
at a press conference. ''I believe my position will win (people's)
understanding.''
It will be the first anniversary of the end of the war since Kan's Democratic
Party of Japan came to power last September after defeating the Liberal
Democratic Party in the general election in August.
It will also be the first time that all members of a Cabinet refrain from
visiting the shrine. Under LDP-led governments, one or more Cabinet members
visited the shrine every year.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told reporters that it is the current
government's stance that ministers ''refrain voluntarily'' from making official
visits to Yasukuni.
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said at a separate press conference, ''By
considering the sentiments of neighboring countries, the prime minister and
Cabinet members should refrain from making official visits.''
Financial Services Minister Shozaburo Jimi, a member of the DPJ's relatively
conservative coalition partner the People's New Party, also said he has no
plans to visit the shrine.
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara emphasized
that Yasukuni enshrines Class-A war criminals. ''I won't make a visit as long
as I am in this post,'' he said, calling for further discussion on whether to
stop enshrining the war dead and war criminals at the same facility.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma said, ''We must study and
realize a way for more people to make visits'' to commemorate the war dead,
referring to a proposal once pursued by an LDP-led government for the building
of a national, secular and permanent memorial facility.
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa told reporters, ''Since I was a college
student, I've always quietly given more than passing thought (to the war dead)
on Aug. 15.''
==Kyodo