In a last defiant gesture as Japan’s Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi denounced as immature those foreign governments that criticised him for praying at a nationalist Shinto shrine where convicted war criminals are worshipped.

China and South Korea reacted with fury at Mr Koizumi’s visit today to Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo, where Japan’s war dead, including 14 Class-A war criminals convicted by allied tribunals, are enshrined. There was criticism from Singapore and Taiwan, which also suffered at the hands of Japanese imperialism, and public protests in China, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

At a separate ceremony to remember the war dead, Mr Koizumi expressed deep remorse and condolences for the “considerable damage and pain” caused by Japan to its Asian neighbours. But he stubbornly defended his decision to visit the shrine on the most sensitive and controversial of all days — the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in 1945.

“People say: ‘Don’t do anything that annoys China or anything that annoys South Korea, so Asian diplomacy will be in good shape’,” Mr Koizumi said after his early morning visit. “But I don’t think that’s the case. If Bush of the United States tells me not to go, would I stop? No, I would still go even then. But President Bush would not say anything so immature.

“I have visited the shrine in the past to pray for those who had to sacrifice themselves. The visit is not dedicated to the Class-A war criminals. I am not going to the shrine in order to encourage Shinto or to glorify and justify Japan’s past militarism.”

Mr Koizumi will step down next month after five years as Prime Minister, and his appearance at Yasukuni, formally dressed in a morning suit and bowing deeply in front of the inner sanctuary of the 137-year-old shrine, had been widely expected. But it nonetheless marks a new low in Japan’s recent relations with its Asian neighbours, and casts a shadow over his considerable achievements as a reformer of Japan’s political system and rejuvenated economy.

Within hours of the visit, which was broadcast live by 12 television helicopters hovering above the shrine, Japan’s ambassadors to Beijing and Seoul had been summoned for admonishment.

“Prime Minister Koizumi ignored the international community and its Asian neighbours, and also the Japanese people’s concerns and objections, and obstinately visited the Yasukuni shrine,” said Li Zhaoxing, the Chinese Foreign Minister. “Not only has he lost the trust of the international community, he’s lost the trust of the Japanese people and harmed Japan’s image and interests.”

A group of about 30 protesters shouted slogans in front of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing and in Hong Kong Japanese flags were set alight. But there was no repeat of the violent demonstrations last year, when marchers in several cities burned and stoned Japanese shops and consulates.

In a speech marking the 61st anniversary of his country’s liberation from Japanese colonisation, Roh Moo Hyun, the South Korean President, said: “Japan must repent sincerely and prove clearly it will not repeat its past wrongdoing by translating apologies into action.”

A Taiwanese spokesman urged Japan to “face up to history” and Singapore described Mr Koizumi’s decision as unhelpful.

“We understand the Prime Minister of Japan wanting to show respect to Japanese soldiers who were killed in the Second World War,” said Alexander Downer, the Australian Foreign Minister. “What makes us uncomfortable . . . is the presence of the remains of Class-A war criminals there.”

Tens of thousands of visitors followed Mr Koizumi’s example and prayed at the shrine today, and many of them were delighted that he had kept his promise to offer prayers there on the anniversary of the war’s end. “Just as in the United States people quite naturally visit Arlington Cemetery, so it should be natural for Japanese to come to Yasukuni,” said Shingo Nishimura, a right-wing MP.

Crowds of elderly veterans and their families queued in front of the shrine along with uniformed members of right-wing groups holding nationalistic banners and waving flags. “The heroic spirits must be very grateful, as well as those people of the nation who believe in this shrine,” said Masao Horie, a 90-year-old army veteran.

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