Men wearing Japanese Imperial Army unifo

Tokyo, JAPAN: Men wearing Japanese Imperial Army uniforms carry the "Rising Sun" flag, the flag used by Imperial Japan until the end of World War II and currently used as the country's naval ensign, leave controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, 13 August 2006, after prayers. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has angered China and South Korea by making annual pilgrimages to the shrine, which honours the Japanese war dead, including convicted top war leaders from World War II. Koizumi, who is due to step down in September, has indicated he will visit the controversial shrine 15 August, 2006 -- the 61st anniversary of Japan's surrender to the allied powers in World War II. AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)