OSAKA -- As 2005 draws to a close, Japan's relations with China and South Korea remain strained over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, textbooks that critics say whitewash Japanese history and a host of other historical and territorial issues.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='200' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='/images/photos2005/nn20051223f1a.jpg' WIDTH='200' HEIGHT='231'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi –

turns toward South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao looks away after a group photo at the East Asia Summit on Dec. 14.

And some scholars say part of the blame for the bad blood must be laid at the feet of the Japanese media.