Japan PM expresses remorse over war

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed sympathy for victims of Japan’s war-time aggression today as the country commemorated the 62nd anniversary of its surrender in the Second World War.

But rightists criticised Abe for failing to pay his respects at a war shrine in Tokyo that honours fallen soldiers.

Repeated visits to Yasukuni shrine by Abe’s predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, sparked anger in China and South Korea, who consider the shrine a monument to Japan’s past militarism because it includes executed war criminals among the war dead.

Koizumi again visited Yasukuni today, while one Cabinet minister, Sanae Takaichi, made the trip along with almost 50 lawmakers.

Abe has stayed away from Yasukuni since taking office last September, in an attempt to appease Tokyo’s neighbours.

“Japan caused great damage and pain to people in many countries, especially in Asia,” Abe said at a secular ceremony in Tokyo. “With a strong sense of regret, I express my sympathy to these victims on behalf of the people of Japan.”

Emperor Akihito – whose father, Hirohito, once revered as god, issued the surrender decades ago – bowed deeply before a floral memorial to war victims and vowed never to repeat the tragedy.

“I mourn for those who perished in the war, and pray for world peace and for the future of Japan,” Akihito said.

Abe, the hawkish grandson of a Second World War Cabinet minister, is known for his reactionary views of history and rarely voices remorse over Japan’s wartime actions.

He denied that Asian women were forced to work as sex slaves in military brothels during the war, contradicting countless testimony from former victims and triggering outrage across the region.

And continuing a drive started under Koizumi, Abe has pushed to give Japan a bigger military role overseas, championing legislation aimed at amending the country’s pacifist post-war constitution and upgrading the Defence Agency to a full ministry.

Abe has also backed laws requiring schools to teach patriotism, a move blasted by critics as a slip back to Japan’s pre-war emperor-centred education system.

But the leader coupled those moves with overtures to China and South Korea, making fence-mending visits to the two countries in October and making a point of staying away from Yasukuni.

Abe’s nationalist drive has also stalled as his political base founders. The leader suffered a crushing defeat in last month’s parliamentary elections following a series of gaffes and scandals involving key ministers, as well as a huge pensions scandal.

Abe today refused to discuss future plans for a visit “as long as the issue remains a diplomatic problem.”

“I believe we must continue to have respect for those who fought and fell for their country,” he said.

Japan’s right wing was enraged at Abe’s absence from the shrine. About 10 trucks blaring nationalist slogans converged in front of the prime minister’s official residence this afternoon, calling Abe “a traitor to the Japanese people” for failing to properly respect the war dead.

Other Japanese welcomed Abe’s decision to stay away.

“Praying at Yasukuni is akin to glorifying war, and I’m against it,” said Hiroaki Kitagawa, a Christian priest, who took part in a peace rally near the shrine on Wednesday.

“How can Japan truly express remorse for war when its leaders keep on paying their respects there? It’s hypocritical,” he said.