Prime minister wins right to visit Shinto war shrine

Japan's supreme court has ruled that the prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, can continue to visit a war shrine in Tokyo after dismissing the claims of more than 270 plaintiffs that they had suffered psychological damage after his first visit, in 2001. They had also claimed the visits to the Shinto shrine violated the constitutional separation of religion and state.

The shrine honours 2.5 million war dead, including 14 class-A war criminals. Mr Koizumi says he visits as a private citizen to thank the dead for their sacrifice and to vow never again to set Japan on a path towards militarism.