Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, stayed away from the country's Yasukuni war shrine on Wednesday, as the country marked the 62nd anniversary of its World War Two surrender.

Regular visits to the shrine by Junichiro Koizumi, the former prime minister, had stirred up tensions with Japan's Asian neighbours, angry at what they say is Japan's failure to atone for past war crimes.

Koizumi visited the shrine again on Wednesday, as veterans and relatives of the country's war dead gathered at the site to mark the anniversary.

 

Remorse expressed

Abe's decision to stay away reflects the continued political sensitivities over Japan's war time past, both inside Japan and neighbouring countries.

Japanese veterans

Tony Cheng reports from the Yasukuni shrine

Most members of the Japanese cabinet are also expected not to visit the shrine.

 

However, Abe did attend a ceremony on Wednesday honouring Japan's three million war dead, held at an arena near to the Yasukuni site.

Speaking at the ceremony attended by Emperor Akihito, Abe had expressed his remorse for the suffering caused by the Japanese military.

Abe said: "Japan caused great damages and pains to people in many countries, especially in Asia."

"I express sympathy to the victims on behalf of the people of Japan."

Akihito, after bowing before a floral memorial, vowed that Japan would never repeat the tragedy.

"I mourn those who perished in the war and pray for the world peace and Japan's further progress," he said.

Contested history 

Abe came to office last September on a nationalist platform, arguing that it was natural for a head of state to pay homage to Japan's war dead.

Although he has visited the Yasukuni shrine before, he has avoided doing so since taking office.

The shrine is located in central Tokyo and was established by Shinto priests in 1869 and was funded by the government until 1945.

It honours Japan's war dead, including many convicted war criminals executed after World War II, such as Hideki Tojo, a wartime leader.

The shrine also holds a museum that depicts Japan's wartime conquests as a crusade against Western colonialism in Asia.