70% express concerns over Abe's shrine visit

TOKYO -- A poll conducted in Japan has shown that nearly 70 percent of respondents think Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should take diplomatic relations into consideration in deciding whether to visit the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, expressing their concerns over the controversial practice of the premier.

The nationwide telephone survey, conducted by Kyodo News on Saturday and Sunday, came after Abe's Thursday visit to the shrine, which honors 14 Class-A WWII war criminals and stirs up nightmare memories among Japan's neighboring countries.

The survey found 69.8 percent of respondents think Abe should heed the diplomatic implication of his visit to the notorious shrine, against 25.3 percent who do not think so.

It also showed 47.1 percent responded it "was not good" that Abe visited the shrine, exceeding 43.2 percent who appreciated it.

The survey found 54.6 percent of the respondents supported the idea to create a new facility for people to pay their respects to the war dead, compared with 32.9 percent who did not.

As Japan's ally, the United States also said Thursday it was " disappointed" by Abe's visit, saying the move would "exacerbate tensions with Japan's neighbors."

The survey was conducted on eligible voters across Japan. Of the 1,429 households that answered the phone, 1,013 responded.