The Tokyo High Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by 39 plaintiffs who sought damages from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the state for psychological stress they claim his August 2001 visit to Yasukuni Shrine caused.
The high court supported a ruling by the Chiba District Court last November that rejected the damages claim over Koizumi's contentious visit to the shrine.
Yasukuni enshrines some 2.5 million war dead, as well as 14 Class-A war criminals.