Thousands flock to Tokyo war shrine as feud rages

TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters) As the chief priest of Yasukuni Shrine offered thanks to the spirits of the war dead honoured there, two dozen snow-white doves were released by pilgrims and fluttered slowly up into the sky.

Among the thousands at the Tokyo shrine today, the anniversary of Japan's World War Two surrender, was Takao Abe, a schoolboy when his father died fighting in the Philippines.

''I come here every year to think of my father and the people who died with him,'' the 69-year-old said, his lips trembling.

''It's 61 years since the war ended and Japan hasn't fired even one bullet in battle since then. The men who are honoured here at the shrine gave this to us.'' And yet there is more anger than respect for the Yasukuni shrine overseas, because Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals are honoured there along with 2.5 million war dead.

China and South Korea, where memories of Japanese aggression run deep, have been particularly enraged by the annual visits of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who avoided making a pilgrimage to Yasukuni on the August 15 anniversay until this year.

Most of those who visited the spacious, leafy grounds of the shrine in central of the capital dismissed foreign concerns.

''Japan is wealthy today because people gave their lives for it during the war,'' said Toshinori Takeuchi, 52.

''I wouldn't exactly say that China and South Korea are interfering in our internal affairs, but too much fuss is being made of the prime minister's visits. The issue has become a political tool.'' Others held even stronger views.

''China and South Korea are trying to dispel domestic frustrations by focusing on Japan,'' said Makoto Ito, a 26-year-old food company worker. ''That ties have worsened to this extent is totally their responsibility.'' MILITARY SONGS, INCENSE Old men in black and kimono-clad women mingled with young people in shorts and T-shirts on the stone path to the central shrine altar, passing spreading cherry trees that in the spring are a sea of pink. Some held children by the hand.

Young men in fake green military uniforms whipped out swords to salute the shrine. Others lined up in ranks by the main altar and, competing with the harsh buzz of cicadas, sang a naval song as the scent of incense drifted through the muggy air.

Veterans gathered in groups as one haltingly played a bugle.

A few held banners saying ''We should band together under the Emperor and the Rising Sun'', and there were occasional calls of ''Long live Japan'', echoing the ''Long live the Emperor!'' cries under which imperial soldiers fought and died.

A few scuffles broke out between right-wing groups, with some shoving and shouting, but police moved quickly to quell them.

By midday, the shrine was so packed that movement in front of the main altar slowed to a shuffle. But at the stroke of noon silence fell as all bowed their heads and prayed.

Many said they were pleased by Koizumi's visit.

''I was glad he came,'' said Reiko Aoki, 78, whose older brother died in the war. ''These people went to war for the nation, and they should be honoured for this.'' But Abe, who has made several visits to the battlefield in Leyte where his father died, said he had misgivings about the fact that war criminals were also honoured at the shrine.

''The soldiers fought saying that they'd meet at Yasukuni if they died. I don't think the people who bear responsibility for the war should be here too.'' REUTERS MS BST1337