2 Suits Say Japan's Prime Minister Violated Religion-State Limits In Visiting Yasukuni Shrine

In Japan yesterday, 273 plaintiffs filed suit asking the Tokyo District Court to rule that the visit last December to the Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Mnister Shinzo Abe violated Japan's constitutional separation of politics and religion.  Asahi Shimbun reports that the suit claims the visit aggravated relations with neighboring nations because in addition to memorializing Japan's war dead, the shrine memorializes 14 Class-A war criminals from World War II. A similar lawsuit was filed in the Osaka District Court on April 11. Yesterday's suit seeks an injunction against future visits by the prime minister plus a minimal amount in damages.