August 15, 2005 - 1:05 AM

Japan PM marks WW2 defeat with apology to Asia

By Jonathan Standing

TOKYO (Reuters) - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi marked the 60th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War Two on Monday with an apology for suffering caused by Japanese military aggression, and pledged that Tokyo would never again go to war.

Sixty years after Emperor Hirohito exhorted his subjects to "bear the unbearable" and accept defeat, memories of the war that killed millions in Asia bedevil relations between Japan and its neighbours, particularly China and North and South Korea.

"Japan caused huge damage and suffering to many countries, especially the people of Asia, with its colonisation and aggression," Koizumi said in a statement.

"Humbly accepting this fact of history, we again express our deep remorse and heartfelt apology and offer our condolences to the victims of the war at home and abroad," he said.

The words echoed those of then-prime minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995 and Koizumi's own remarks at a summit of Asian and African leaders in Jakarta in April.

Koizumi added that he wanted to build relations of mutual trust with Asian countries and join with them, especially China and South Korea, to maintain peace in the region.

Koizumi, who faces an election on Sept 11., later mourned Japan's war dead at a secular memorial service.

He was expected to stay away from Yasukuni -- literally "peaceful country" -- where convicted war criminals are honoured with Japan's 2.5 million military dead since the late 1800s.

Koizumi has made annual visits to the shrine since taking office in 2001, but never on the anniversary of the war's end.

Ruling party executive Shinzo Abe, often cited as a candidate to succeed Koizumi, joined about 50 other lawmakers in visiting the shrine. Health Minister Hidehisa Otsuji and Environment Minister Yuriko Koike also paid their respects.

Many in China and South Korea feel Japan has not faced up to its past. "Actions speak louder than words ... His words appeared faint and his sincerity is also in doubt," said an editorial in the China Daily, referring to Koizumi's past apologies.

MOURNING THE DEAD

South and North Koreans at a gathering in Seoul also lashed out at their former colonial master.

"The Japanese government and politicians must stop the beautification and worship of war criminals and repent and apologise for past aggression and criminal acts," said South Korean Park In-joo outside a restored prison once used by Japan.

Koizumi says he visits Yasukuni to mourn the war dead and pray for peace, but surveys show the Japanese public is divided on whether he should keep going.

Children, students and adults mingled with elderly, dark-suited veterans at the massive Yasukuni complex on a hot morning as police stood by ready for possible clashes between fatigue-clad right-wing groups and anti-Yasukuni demonstrators.

A group waving placards against Koizumi's visits and urging Japan to "Live together with Asia" was turned away by police.

"As a national leader, he should come to pray for peace and honour the dead as they do in all civilised countries," said Masakazu Aihara, 64, a retired trading firm executive.

Some Japanese also think the time to apologise is over and think Tokyo should not cave in to Chinese criticism.

"The problem isn't China, it's Japan. If we got our act together China wouldn't be able to say anything," said Hiroshi Sato, 83, who fought in Burma, now Myanmar, in 1944 against the British and took eight bullets before being sent home.

Forty-three percent of respondents to a weekend survey by Mainichi newspaper said Japan's war against China and the United States was wrong, while 29 percent said it was unavoidable.

(Additional reporting by Masayuki Kitano and George Nishiyama in Tokyo, Lindsay Beck in Beijing and Jack Kim in Seoul)