Lawmakers launched a nonpartisan group Wednesday to consider building a secular war memorial to help resolve the controversy over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's contentious visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine.
The inaugural meeting was attended by about 100 legislators from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, New Komeito, and the Democratic Party of Japan.
Taku Yamasaki, a former LDP vice president, has been named chairman of the group, while Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the DPJ, and Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, secretary general of New Komeito, will be vice chairmen.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.