The Osaka High Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by 338 Japanese and Korean plaintiffs against a lower court ruling that dismissed their suit for damages for psychological stress caused by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's August 2001 visit to Yasukuni Shrine, Kyodo News reported.

The plaintiffs -- kin of the war dead and people of religious faith other than Shinto -- claimed that the Japanese premier's visit to the Tokyo-based shrine infringes on the constitutional provision calling for separation of the state and religion.

This was the first high court ruling on eight similar damages suits filed in Japan over Koizumi's Yasukuni visits. It backed a February 2004 Osaka District Court ruling dismissing the plaintiffs' claim.

According to Kyodo News, the high court did not issue any opinion on the constitutionality of the visit, which was a focal point of the lawsuit.

Since taking office in April 2001, Koizumi has paid yearly visits to the notorious shrine, which honors 14 World War II Class- A criminals responsible for Japan's aggression war against its Asian neighbors.

People of China, South Korea and other Asian countries, as well as Japanese peaceloving groups, have strongly protested Koizumi's Yasukuni visits.

Source: Xinhua