Japan's Koizumi makes surprise visit to controversial war shrine.

(From Agence France Presse)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a surprise New Year visit to a controversial shrine honouring the nation's war dead, sparking howls of protest from Asian neighbours who suffered under Japan's war-time aggression.

China and South Korea both lashed out after Koizumi, dressed formally in "hakama" pleated skirt and traditional "kimono" bearing his family crest, walked solemnly into the Yasukuni Shrine to mark New Year's Day.

Honouring 2.5 million Japanese war dead, Yasukuni is widely seen as a symbol of Japan's former militarism, particularly since 1978 when it enshrined 14 Class-A war criminals including wartime prime minister General Hideki Tojo.

Koizumi bowed deeply at the main chamber before being escorted inside by a Shinto priest to pay his respects out of sight from the media.

"I prayed for peace and prosperity in Japan ... which has been built based on the people who lost their lives against their will during the war," Koizumi told reporters.

Defending the visit to the war shrine, he said: "No country interferes in other countries' respect for history, tradition, custom. Since I am visiting here every year, I hope to gain understanding gradually."