Since he took office in 2001, Koizumi has made annual pilgrimages to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honours the nation's 2.5 million war dead, including 14 Class-A war criminals.

The Fukuoka District Court in southern Japan handed more than 200 relatives of war dead and members of religious groups the moral victory but rejected their claims for damages.

A total of 211 plaintiffs argued that Koizumi's visit on August 13, 2001, violated the constitutional separation of state and that it caused them mental suffering.

Beijing and Seoul have reacted angrily to previous visits by Koizumi and other Japanese officials to the shrine, which is widely seen as a symbol of Japan's former militarism.

Koizumi's argument that his visit is intended to pledge Japan must not cause war again has still triggered civil lawsuits in Japan, but this is the first time his visits have been ruled unconstitutional.

On March 16, the Matsuyama District Court in eastern Japan rejected a lawsuit by 133 relatives of war dead and two religious organisations seeking to bar Koizumi from visiting the shrine.

WAR.WIRE