The Japanese were divided over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's contentious visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, with more than half worried about the prospect of relations with China and South Korea, according to a Asahi Shimbun daily's survey on Wednesday.

The poll result showed that 42 percent of respondents supported his visit, while 41 percent wanted him to stop such a practice.

As for the consequences of the visit, 65 percent said they were worried or very worried that Japan's relations with China and South Korea would be deteriorating.

The people in China and South Korea once fell victim to Japan's military expansion before and during the World War II. Koizumi's annual visit to the shrine where Japan's war criminals and war dead are honored has been a primary stumbling block to developting relations with the two countries.

Following Koizumi's fifth visit to the shrine on Monday, China has put off a ministerial meeting scheduled for next week. South Korea also suggested that a summit meeting in December would be at stake.

More than 50 percent of the pollees said the government should seriously handle the criticism from China and South Korea.

In addition, 51 percent favored a new secular memorial to replace the religious facility. Even among those who supported the visit, 45 percent backed the idea.

Japanese courts have ruled that the visits are unconstitutional for violating the principle of separation of state and religion.

Koizumi said he visited the shrine in his private capacity. But 45 percent of the respondents said his explanation was not acceptable.

Source: Xinhua