China and South Korea lodged official complaints and opponents of the prime minister staged an all-day media blitz protesting the visit on the anniversary of Japan's surrender during the war.
The house and office of Koichi Kato, a member of Koizumi's own party who also opposed the visit, was burned down late Tuesday. Police investigators said they could not rule out arson in the case. Kato had appeared on television throughout the day criticizing Koizumi.
Visitors to the Yasukuni Shrine pay respects to the war dead on the 61st anniversary of the end of the World War II in Tokyo, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi prayed at the Yasukuni war shrine Tuesday.AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye via Yahoo News.
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