JAPAN
World War II apologies
August 14, 2015 - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s statement expected Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will be scrutinised as his Liberal Democratic Party pushes legislation that many Japanese believe violates the nation’s pacifist constitution and could entangle Japan in a U.S.-led war overseas.
More than seven in 10 Japanese support statements of “deep remorse” and “heartfelt apology” issued by prime ministers on the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the end of World War II.
Abe has suggested he might want to revise the statements of his predecessor, former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, to mark the 70th anniversary. The 1995 Murayama Statement apologised for Japan’s overall conduct and characterised the conflict as a war of aggression by Japan.