Kanzaki places election onus on Koizumi

BEIJING (Kyodo) New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki said Thursday that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may be held responsible if the ruling coalition fails to retain its majority in the next House of Councilors election.

Kanzaki, on a visit to Beijing, told reporters that as a "a minimum requirement," the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito must retain their combined majority in the Upper House in this summer's election.

"Who knows what will happen if we cannot retain a majority, because it could cause political instability," he said.

He also said that his party may issue an interim report on its constitutional amendment proposals before the July election.

"I would like to promote discussions on Article 9 and the preamble of the Constitution and summarize the discussions by June, if possible," he said.

On the question of war-renouncing Article 9, Kanzaki said there would be no taboos in debate on amendments.

The party had earlier planned to issue an interim report on Constitution alterations at its fall convention.

Kanzaki went on to voice understanding for Koizumi's latest remarks regarding Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Koizumi said he does not dwell on the fact that the shrine honors war criminals.

"I do not think, in his capacity as a politician, he can tell the shrine what to do, as whether to honor war criminals is left to the judgment of each religious organization."

Kanzaki was referring to comments Koizumi made Tuesday about the war-related shrine. Asked by reporters whether there are any differences between the 14 convicted Class-A World War II criminals and the war dead, Koizumi said, "I do not dwell on them."

Koizumi also told a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting earlier Tuesday that he does not feel uncomfortable with Yasukuni Shrine honoring the war criminals.

He also reiterated that he will continue his visits to the shrine even though they have angered other Asian countries. Kanzaki, leader of the party backed by Japan's largest lay Buddhist organization, Soka Gakkai, had earlier voiced regret over Koizumi's visit to the Shinto shrine.

He said the visit could be interpreted as a violation of the Constitution's provision that "the state and its organs shall refrain from . . . religious activity."

Chinese President Hu Jintao told Kanzaki during their meeting in Beijing on Wednesday that: "The leaders of both China and Japan bear responsibility for history and also for the people."

He did not directly mention Koizumi's visit to the shrine.