Japan's Leaders Honor War Dead

TOKYO - A total of 86 lawmakers paid their respects in person at a shrine for Japanese war dead on Friday.

The Yasukuni Shrine honors Japanese soldiers killed in wars since the late 19th century. The Japanese government includes convicted war criminals who were executed by the nation's enemies as honored war dead.

Visits to the shrine by large groups of lawmakers, including Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma, comes in the wake of rising tensions between Japan and its neighboring countries after Japan approved a controversial textbook that critics say glosses over its wartime crimes.

"Lawmakers participate in the ceremonial service every spring," an official at the shrine said. "The number of people this year is similar to years past."

Some critics interpreted the participation by high-level politicians in the memorial service, which commemorates Japan's imperial era, as an indication of the nationalist tendencies of Japanese political circles.

by Oh Day-young