Japan's prime minister kept to a pledge to stay away from a controversial war shrine on the 63rd anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II.

Instead, Yasuo Fukuda expressed his "deep regret" over the war, and renewed his country's commitment to peace.

But he did not stop three ministers paying their respects at the Yasukuni shrine to those who died fighting for Japan, including war criminals.

Previous prime ministers have stirred regional tensions by visiting Yasukuni.

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Mr Koizumi's successor, Shinzo Abe, also paid respects at the shrine, though not while in office.

'Great pain'

To mark the 15 August anniversary of Japan's surrender, Mr Fukuda offered flowers at a nearby secular cemetery and attended a memorial service with the emperor and empress.

"Our country has inflicted great pain on many nations, especially those in Asia," he said at the memorial service.

"On behalf of the Japanese people, I express my condolences and deep regret to all the victims.

"I pledge that we will renew our commitment not to fight war and that we will lead the international community as a peace co-operating nation to actively establish lasting peace in the world."

But three of Mr Fukuda's cabinet ministers - Farm Minister Seiichi Ota, Justice Minister Okihara Yasuoka and Seiko Noda, minister for food safety and consumer issues - visited the shrine, along with dozens of lawmakers.

Bitterness remains

The issue of Japan's war-time conduct remains a highly sensitive one in parts of Asia colonised or invaded by Japan.

In South Korea, which Japan ruled for 35 years until its war defeat, 15 August is celebrated as Liberation Day.

There, bitterness at Japan's perceived reluctance to assume responsibility for its war-time wrongdoing lies behind several thorny bilateral issues, such as the current dispute over a pair of islets which lie between the two countries.

But Mr Fukuda has worked to try to resolve the tensions with Japan's neighbours that marked Mr Koizumi's 2001-06 period in office.

In May, his efforts were reciprocated by a visit from Chinese President Hu Jintao - the first such visit in a decade.

(BBC)

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