Japan Times: Nakasone hits Koizumi populism, Yasukuni visits
Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone warned the half-century-old Liberal Democratic Party against "pandering" to populism and urged it to hammer out far-sighted policies. He also said Class-A war criminals should no longer be honored at Yasukuni Shrine, and believes prime ministers should refrain from visiting the Tokyo institution for the sake of Japan's interests, like he did after drawing flak for one such visit..."I don't regard those who are called war criminals as 'criminals' but 'people responsible for the war'...The important thing is to pass down the nation's spiritual tradition" embodied in Yasukuni, he said. "Since the Meiji Era, many soldiers died shouting 'Long live the Emperor!' But the Emperor cannot visit (the shrine because the Class-A war criminals are enshrined there), so I insist (their names) be removed to a separate place"...more...
