List of war apology statements issued by Japan

This is a list of war apology statements issued by the state of Japan with regard to the war crimes
committed by the Empire of Japan during World War II. The statements were made at and after the end of
World War II in Asia, from the 1950s to present days.

Contents
Background
Apology rebuffed
History
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Comments clarifying past apologies
Controversy
Forms of apology
See also
Notes
References
External links

Background
At the end of the Pacific Theater of World War II, the Imperial Japanese government accepted the terms of
the Potsdam Declaration. In 1945, the unconditional surrender of the Empire of Japan was formally
confirmed aboard the Allied battleship, USS Missouri (BB-63). Once the formal documents were signed,
General Douglas MacArthur, representing the Allies, was named the Supreme Commander of the Allied
Powers in Japan.[1]

Emperor Hirohito let it be known to General MacArthur that he was prepared to apologize formally to
General MacArthur for Japan's actions during World War II—including an apology for the December 7,
1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.[2]

Apology rebuffed
In one version of the formal apology, Emperor Hirohito, the Japanese monarch, is reported to have said to
General MacArthur: "I come before you to offer myself to the judgment of the powers you represent, as
one to bear sole responsibility for every political and military decision made and action taken by my people
in the conduct of the war."[3]

In a second version of the formal apology, Patrick Lennox Tierney claims that he was an eyewitness when
the Emperor came to the Allied Supreme Commander's headquarters to present this apology. Tierney was
in his office on the fifth floor of the Dai-Ichi Insurance Building in Tokyo. This was the same floor where
MacArthur's suite was situated.[2] Tierney reported that when the emperor arrived, MacArthur refused to
admit him or acknowledge him, and the pivotal moment passed.

Many years later, Tierney made an effort to explain his understanding of the significance of what he
claimed he had personally witnessed: "Apology is a very important thing in Japan. [...] It was the rudest,
crudest, most uncalled for thing I have ever witnessed in my life."[2] Whether true or not—issues which
might have been addressed were allowed to remain open, and unanticipated consequences have unfolded
across the decades since then.[4][5]

History

1950s
1957: Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke said to the people of Burma: "We view with deep
regret the vexation we caused to the people of Burma in the war just passed. In a desire to
atone, if only partially, for the pain suffered, Japan is prepared to meet fully and with goodwill
its obligations for war reparations. The Japan of today is not the Japan of the past, but, as its
Constitution indicates, is a peace-loving nation."[6]
1957: Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke said to the people of Australia: "It is my official duty,
and my personal desire, to express to you and through you to the people of Australia, our
heartfelt sorrow for what occurred in the war."[7]

1960s
June 22, 1965: Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo said to the people of South
Korea: "In our two countries' long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly
regrettable and we are deeply remorseful" (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations
between Japan and South Korea).

1970s
September 29, 1972: Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka said to the people of the People's
Republic of China: "The Japanese side is keenly conscious of the responsibility for the
serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people through war, and
deeply reproaches itself. Further, the Japanese side reaffirms its position that it intends to
realize the normalization of relations between the two countries from the stand of fully
understanding 'the three principles for the restoration of relations' put forward by the
Government of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese side expresses its welcome for
this" (Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's
Republic of China).[8]
1980s
August 24, 1982: Prime Minister Zenkō Suzuki said: "I am painfully aware of Japan's
responsibility for inflicting serious damages [on Asian nations] during the past war." "We
need to recognize that there are criticisms that condemn [Japan's occupation] as invasion"
(Press Conference on the textbook controversy).[9]
August 26, 1982: Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Miyazawa said to the people of the
Republic of Korea: "1. The Japanese Government and the Japanese people are deeply
aware of the fact that acts by our country in the past caused tremendous suffering and
damage to the peoples of Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and
China, and have followed the path of a pacifist state with remorse and determination that
such acts must never be repeated. Japan has recognized, in the Japan-ROK Joint
Communique, of 1965, that the 'past relations are regrettable, and Japan feels deep
remorse,' and in the Japan-China Joint Communique, that Japan is 'keenly conscious of the
responsibility for the serious damage that Japan caused in the past to the Chinese people
through war and deeply reproaches itself.' These statements confirm Japan's remorse and
determination which I stated above and this recognition has not changed at all to this day. 2.
This spirit in the Japan-ROK Joint Communique, and the Japan-China Joint Communique,
naturally should also be respected in Japan's school education and textbook authorization.
September 6, 1984: Emperor Hirohito said to President Chun Doo Hwan: "It is indeed
regrettable that there was an unfortunate past between us for a period in this century and I
believe that it should not be repeated again." (Meeting with President Chun Doo Hwan.)[10]
September 7, 1984: Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone said: "There was a period in this
century when Japan brought to bear great sufferings upon your country and its people. I
would like to state here that the government and people of Japan feel a deep regret for this
error."[11]
October 23, 1985: Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, in a speech to the United Nations,
said: "On June 6, 1945, when the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco, Japan was still
fighting a senseless war with 40 nations. Since the end of the war, Japan has profoundly
regretted the unleashing of rampant ultra nationalism and militarism and the war that brought
great devastation to the people of many countries around the world and to our country as
well" (Speech to the United Nations).
1989: Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru, in a speech in the Japanese Diet, said: "As we have
made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the
Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past
caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret
and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a "Peace
Nation" since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the
relationship between our countries and the Korean Peninsula, our nearest neighbors both
geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean
Peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we
want to express our deep regret and sorrow" (Speech in the Japanese Diet).

1990s
April 18, 1990: Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Nakayama said to the people of South Korea:
"Japan is deeply sorry for the tragedy in which these (Korean) people were moved to
Sakhalin not of their own free will but by the design of the Japanese government and had to
remain there after the conclusion of the war" (188th National Diet Session Lower House
Committee of Foreign Affairs).[12]
May 24, 1990: Emperor Akihito, in a meeting with South Korean President Roh Tae Woo,
said: "Reflecting upon the suffering that your people underwent during this unfortunate
period, which was brought about by our nation, I cannot but feel the deepest remorse"
(Meeting with President Roh Tae Woo).[13]
May 25, 1990: Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, in a meeting with President Roh Tae Woo, said:
"I would like to take the opportunity here to humbly reflect upon how the people of the
Korean Peninsula went through unbearable pain and sorrow as a result of our country's
actions during a certain period in the past and to express that we are sorry" (Summit meeting
with President Roh Tae Woo in Japan).[14]
January 1, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, in a press conference, said: "Concerning
the comfort women, I apologize from the bottom of my heart and feel remorse for those
people who suffered indescribable hardships".
January 16, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, in a speech at dinner with President Roh
Tae Woo, said: "We the Japanese people, first and foremost, have to bear in our mind the
fact that your people experienced unbearable suffering and sorrow during a certain period in
the past because of our nation's act, and never forget the feeling of remorse. I, as a prime
minister, would like to once again express a heartfelt remorse and apology to the people of
your nation".[15]
January 17, 1992: Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, at a policy speech on a visit to South
Korea, said:. "What we should not forget about relationship between our nation and your
nation is a fact that there was a certain period in the thousands of years of our company
when we were the victimizer and you were the victim. I would like to once again express a
heartfelt remorse and apology for the unbearable suffering and sorrow that you experienced
during this period because of our nation's act." Recently the issue of the so-called 'wartime
comfort women' is being brought up. I think that incidents like this are seriously
heartbreaking, and I am truly sorry".[16]
July 6, 1992. Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato said: "The Government again would like
to express its sincere apology and remorse to all those who have suffered indescribable
hardship as so-called 'wartime comfort women,' irrespective of their nationality or place of
birth. With profound remorse and determination that such a mistake must never be repeated,
Japan will maintain its stance as a pacifist nation and will endeavor to build up new future-
oriented relations with the Republic of Korea and with other countries and regions in Asia.
As I listen to many people, I feel truly grieved for this issue. By listening to the opinions of
people from various directions, I would like to consider sincerely in what way we can
express our feelings to those who suffered such hardship" (Statement by Chief Cabinet
Secretary Koichi Kato on the Issue of the so-called "Wartime Comfort Women" from the
Korean Peninsula).[17]
August 4, 1993: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yōhei Kōno said: "Undeniably, this was an act,
with the involvement of the military authorities of the day, that severely injured the honor and
dignity of many women. The Government of Japan would like to take this opportunity once
again to extend its sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin,
who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as
comfort women" (Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on the result of the
study on the issue of "comfort women"),[18]
August 11, 1993: Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, at the first press conference after his
inauguration, said: "I myself believe it was a war of aggression, a war that was wrong".[19]
August 23, 1993: Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa said in a speech at the 127th National
Diet Session: "After 48 years from then, our nation has become one of nations that enjoy
prosperity and peace. We must not forget that it is founded on the ultimate sacrifices in the
last war, and a product of the achievements of the people of the previous generations. We
would like to take this opportunity to clearly express our remorse for the past and a new
determination to the world. Firstly at this occasion, we would like to express our deep
remorse and apology for the fact that invasion and colonial rule by our nation in the past
brought to bear great sufferings and sorrow upon many people" .[20]
September 24, 1993: Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa said, at the 128th National Diet
Session:. "I used the expression war of aggression and act of aggression to express
honestly my recognition which is the same as the one that the act of our nation in the past
brought to bear unbearable sufferings and sorrow upon many people, and to express once
again deep remorse and apology".[21]
August 31, 1994: Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said in a speech: "Japan's actions in a
certain period of the past not only claimed numerous victims here in Japan but also left the
peoples of neighboring Asia and elsewhere with scars that are painful even today. I am thus
taking this opportunity to state my belief, based on my profound remorse for these acts of
aggression, colonial rule, and the like caused such unbearable suffering and sorrow for so
many people, that Japan's future path should be one of making every effort to build world
peace in line with my no-war commitment. It is imperative for us Japanese to look squarely
to our history with the peoples of neighboring Asia and elsewhere. Only with solid basis of
mutual understanding and confidence that can be built through overcoming the pain on both
sides, can we and the peoples of neighboring countries together clear up the future of Asia-
Pacific.... On the issue of wartime 'comfort women,' which seriously stained the honor and
dignity of many women, I would like to take this opportunity once again to express my
profound and sincere remorse and apologies. With regard to this issue as well, I believe that
one way of demonstrating such feelings of apologies and remorse is to work to further
promote mutual understanding with the countries and areas concerned as well as to face
squarely to the past and ensure that it is rightly conveyed to future generations. This
initiative, in this sense, has been drawn up consistent with such belief" (Statement by Prime
Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the "Peace, Friendship, and Exchange Initiative").[22]
June 9, 1995: House of Representatives, National Diet of Japan passed a resolution stating:
"On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, this House offers its
sincere condolences to those who fell in action and victims of wars and similar actions all
over the world. Solemnly reflecting upon many instances of colonial rule and acts of
aggression in the modern history of the world, and recognizing that Japan carried out those
acts in the past, inflicting pain and suffering upon the peoples of other countries, especially
in Asia, the Members of this House express a sense of deep remorse" (Resolution to renew
the determination for peace on the basis of lessons learned from history).[23]
July 1995: Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said in a statement: "The problem of the so-
called wartime comfort women is one such scar, which, with the involvement of the
Japanese military forces of the time, seriously stained the honor and dignity of many women.
This is entirely inexcusable. I offer my profound apology to all those who, as wartime comfort
women, suffered emotional and physical wounds that can never be closed" (Statement by
Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the occasion of the establishment of the "Asian
Women's Fund").[24]
August 15, 1995: Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said in a statement: "During a certain
period in the not-too-distant past, Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused
tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly those of
Asia. In the hope that no such mistake will be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of
humanity, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep
remorse and state my heartfelt apology" (Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama
'On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the war's end').[25]
June 23, 1996: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said in a press conference: "Hashimoto
mentioned the aspects of Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula such as the forced
Japanization of Korean people's name and commented "It is beyond imagination how this
injured the hearts of Korean people". Hashimoto also touched on the issue of Korean
comfort women and said "Nothing injured the honor and dignity of women more than this
and I would like to extend words of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology" (Joint press
conference at summit meeting with President Kim Young Sam in South Korea).[26]
October 8, 1996: Emperor Akihito said in a speech at a dinner with the South Korean
president, Kim Dae Jung: "There was a period when our nation brought to bear great
sufferings upon the people of the Korean Peninsula." "The deep sorrow that I feel over this
will never be forgotten".[27]
January 13, 1998: Press Secretary published: "Statement by Prime Minister Ryutaro
Hashimoto on World War II prisoners of war. Q: At the meeting last night with Prime Minister
Blair, did Prime Minister Hashimoto really apologize for the prisoners of war. Spokesman
Hashimoto: The important thing is that the Prime Minister of Japan expressed the feelings of
deep remorse and stated heartfelt apologies to the people who suffered in World War II
directly to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This was the second meeting between
Prime Minister Hashimoto and Prime Minister Blair and we considered the meeting very
important, especially this year. Making use of this opportunity, Prime Minister Hashimoto
expressed his remorse and apology on behalf of the Government of Japan; this is very
important. Prime Minister Blair fully understands the importance of the statement made by
Prime Minister Hashimoto on this issue. His press opportunities after the talks objectively
reflect what the two gentlemen talked about" (Press Conference by the Press Secretary).[28]
In a follow-up interview, spokesman Tanaka for Prime Minister Hashimoto clarified that "Our
sense of apology and our sense of remorse was addressed to all the countries which have
gone through the experiences of the last world war."[29]
July 15, 1998: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, in a letter to the Netherlands Prime
Minister Willem Kok: "The Government of Japan, painfully aware of its moral responsibility
concerning the issue of so-called "wartime comfort women," has been sincerely addressing
this issue in close cooperation with the Asian Women's Fund which implements the projects
to express the national atonement on this issue. Recognizing that the issue of comfort
women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave
affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, I would like to convey to Your
Excellency my most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent
immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological
wounds as comfort women.... By the Statement of Prime Minister in 1995, the Government of
Japan renewed the feelings of deep remorse and the heartfelt apology for tremendous
damage and suffering caused by Japan to the people of many countries including the
Netherlands during a certain period in the past. My cabinet has not modified this position at
all, and I myself laid a wreath to the Indisch Monument with these feelings on the occasion of
my visit to the Netherlands in June last year" (The contents of the letter of the then Japanese
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto sent to ).[30]
October 8, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: "Looking back on the
relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea during this century, Prime Minister
Obuchi regarded in a spirit of humility the fact of history that Japan caused, during a certain
period in the past, tremendous damage and suffering to the people of the Republic of Korea
through its colonial rule, and expressed his deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this fact.
President Kim accepted with sincerity this statement of Prime Minister Obuchi's recognition
of history and expressed his appreciation for it. He also expressed his view that the present
calls upon both countries to overcome their unfortunate history and to build a future-oriented
relationship based on reconciliation as well as good-neighborly and friendly cooperation"
(Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration A New Japan-South Korea Partnership towards the
Twenty-first Century).[31]
November 26, 1998: Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi said in a declaration: "Both sides believe
that squarely facing the past and correctly understanding history are the important
foundation for further developing relations between Japan and China. The Japanese side
observes the 1972 Joint Communique of the Government of Japan and the Government of
the People's Republic of China and the August 15, 1995, Statement by former Prime
Minister Tomiichi Murayama. The Japanese side is keenly conscious of the responsibility for
the serious distress and damage that Japan caused to the Chinese people through its
aggression against China during a certain period in the past and expressed deep remorse
 for this. The Chinese side hopes that the Japanese side will learn lessons from the history
and adhere to the path of peace and development. Based on this, both sides will develop
long-standing relations of friendship" (Japan-China Joint Declaration On Building a
Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation for Peace and Development).[32]

2000s
August 10, 2000: Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong Itaru Umezu said: "In fact, Japan
has clearly and repeatedly expressed its sincere remorse and apologies, and has dealt
sincerely with reparation issues. These apologies were irrefutably expressed, in particular in
Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's official statement in 1995, which was based on a
cabinet decision and which has subsequently been upheld by successive prime ministers,
including Prime Minister Yoshirō Mori. Mr. Murayama said that Japan 'through its colonial
rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many
countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. In the hope that no such mistake be made in
the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here
once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology'" (Japan Has Faced
Its Past. Far Eastern Economic Review, August 10, 2000).[33]
August 30, 2000: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yōhei Kōno said in an address during his visit
to the People's Republic of China: "I believe that Japan's perception of history was clearly
set out in the Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued, following a Cabinet
Decision, on the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. As a member of the Cabinet, I
participated in the drafting of that Statement. The spirit contained therein has been carried
forth by successive administrations and is now the common view of the large number of
Japanese people" (Address by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yōhei Kōno During His Visit to
the People's Republic of China).[34]
April 3, 2001: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said: "Japan humbly accepts that for a
period in the not too distant past, it caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people
of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations, through its colonial rule and
aggression, and expresses its deep remorse and heartfelt apology for this. Such recognition
has been succeeded by subsequent Cabinets and there is no change regarding this point in
the present Cabinet" (Comments by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yasuo Fukuda on the
history textbooks to be used in junior high schools from 2002).[35]
September 8, 2001: Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka said in a speech: "We have
never forgotten that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many
countries during the last war. Many lost their precious lives and many were wounded. The
war has left an incurable scar on many people, including former prisoners of war. Facing
these facts of history in a spirit of humility, I reaffirm today our feelings of deep remorse and
heartfelt apology expressed in the Prime Minister Murayama's statement of 1995" (Speech
by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka at the Ceremony in Commemoration of 50th
anniversary of the Signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty).[36]
October 15, 2001: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "During the talks, President Kim
highly appreciated the words of the Prime Minister Koizumi at Sodaemun Independence
Park, in which he expressed remorse and apology for Japan's colonial domination"
(Japanese prime minister visits South Korea).[37]
2001: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (Also signed by all the prime ministers since 1995,
including Ryutaro Hashimoto, Keizō Obuchi, Yoshirō Mori) said in a letter: "As Prime
Minister of Japan, I thus extend anew my most sincere apologies and remorse to all the
women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable
physical and psychological wounds as comfort women. We must not evade the weight of the
past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the future. I believe that our country,
painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should
 face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to future generations" (Letter
from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the former comfort women).[38]
September 17, 2002: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "The Japanese side regards, in
a spirit of humility, the facts of history that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering
to the people of Korea through its colonial rule in the past, and expressed deep remorse and
heartfelt apology" (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration).[39]
August 15, 2003: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "During the war, Japan caused
tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of
Asian nations. On behalf of the people of Japan, I hereby renew my feelings of profound
remorse as I express my sincere mourning to the victims" (Address by Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi at the 58th Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead).[40]
April 22, 2005: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "Japan squarely faces these facts of
history in a spirit of humility. And with feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology always
engraved in mind, Japan has resolutely maintained, consistently since the end of World War
II, never turning into a military power but an economic power, its principle of resolving all
matters by peaceful means, without recourse to use of force. Japan once again states its
resolve to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world in the future as well, prizing the
relationship of trust it enjoys with the nations of the world." (Address by the Prime Minister of
Japan at the Asia-African Summit 2005).[41]
August 15, 2005: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "In the past, Japan, through its
colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of
many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. Sincerely facing these facts of history,
I once again express my feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology, and also express
the feelings of mourning for all victims, both at home and abroad, in the war. I am determined
not to allow the lessons of that horrible war to erode, and to contribute to the peace and
prosperity of the world without ever again waging a war."[42]
March 1, 2007: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe stated in a newspaper article that there was no
evidence that the Japanese government had kept sex slaves, even though the Japanese
government had already admitted the use of brothels in 1993. On March 27, the Japanese
parliament issued an official apology.[43] This was regarding the surviving comfort women
who had demanded an apology from the Japanese government for being used as sex
slaves.
May 9, 2009: The Japanese government, through its ambassador in the U.S., apologized to
former American prisoners of war who suffered in the Bataan Death March.[44]

2010s
February 11, 2010: Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said: "I believe what happened 100
years ago deprived Koreans of their country and national pride. I can understand the
feelings of the people who lost their country and had their pride wounded," Okada said
during a joint news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan. (This
was a statement marking the 100th anniversary of Japan's colonial annexation of Korea, and
not in reference to Japan's war acts in particular.)[45]
August 10, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed "deep regret over the suffering
inflicted" during the Empire of Japan's colonial rule over Korea. Japan's Kyodo News also
reported that Cabinet members endorsed the statement. In addition, Kan said that Japan will
hand over precious cultural artifacts that South Korea has been demanding. Among them
were records of an ancient Korean royal dynasty.[46]
September 13, 2010: Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada apologized to a group of six former
American soldiers who during World War II were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese,
including 90-year-old Lester Tenney, a survivor of the Bataan Death March in 1942. The six
and their families and the families of two deceased soldiers were invited to visit Japan at the
 expense of the Japanese government in a program that will see more American former
prisoners of war and former prisoners of war from other countries visit Japan in the future.[47]
December 7, 2010: Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized for Korea's suffering under
colonization as part of a statement marking the 100th anniversary of the annexation in 1910.
"I express a renewed feeling of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology for the
tremendous damage and suffering caused by colonial rule," Kan said. Kan said Japan
colonized Korea "against the will of the Korean people" who suffered great damage to their
national pride and loss of culture and sovereignty as a result and added that he wants to
take an honest look at his country's past with the courage and humility to address its
history.[48]
March 3, 2011: Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara apologized to a group of Australian POWs
visiting Japan as guests of the Government of Japan for the ill-treatment they received while
in Imperial Japanese captivity.[49]
December 8, 2011: Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshiyuki Kat apologized
to Canada for their treatment of Canadian POW's after the Battle of Hong Kong.[50]
November 13, 2013: Former Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio offered personal
apology for Japan's wartime crimes, especially the Nanking Massacre, "As a Japanese
citizen, I feel that it's my duty to apologise for even just one Chinese civilian killed brutally by
Japanese soldiers and that such action cannot be excused by saying that it occurred during
war."[51]
April 9, 2014: Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe expressed "heartfelt
apology" and "deep remorse" and vowed "never to wage war again" at the Day of Valor
ceremony in Bataan.[52]
April 29, 2015: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, during the first speech of a Japanese prime
minister at a Joint session of the United States Congress, stated "deep repentance" for
Japan's actions during World War II.[53]
December 28, 2015: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean Foreign
Minister Yun Byung-se made an announcement at a joint press conference, which consisted
of their respective statements on behalf of Japan and South Korea. Kishida stated, "The
issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time,
was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women, and the
Government of Japan is painfully aware of responsibilities from this perspective. As Prime
Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe expresses anew his most sincere apologies and
remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and
suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women." The statement
went on to explain that "the Government of Japan will now take measures to heal
psychological wounds of all former comfort women through its budget" and that it had been
decided that the South Korean government would "establish a foundation for the purpose of
providing support for the former comfort women". In return, Yun stated that his government
"acknowledges the fact that the Government of Japan is concerned about the statue built in
front of the Embassy of Japan in Seoul from the viewpoint of preventing any disturbance of
the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity, and will strive to solve this issue in an
appropriate manner". Both stated that this agreement will "finally and irreversibly" resolve
the contentious issue and that "on the premise that the Government of Japan will steadily
implement the measures it announced", both countries "will refrain from accusing or
criticizing each other regarding this issue in the international community, including at the
United Nations".[54]

2020s
August 15, 2020: At a memorial ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World
War II and the war dead, Emperor Naruhito expressed "deep remorse" over Japan's wartime
 past and he stated “I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be
repeated”.[55]

Comments clarifying past apologies

September 6, 1997: Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto said: "In 1995, on the 50th
anniversary of the end of World War II, the Government of Japan expressed its resolution
through the statement by the Prime Minister, which states that during a certain period in the
past, Japan's conduct caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many
countries, including China, and the Prime Minister expressed his feeling of deep remorse
and stated his heartfelt apology, while giving his word to make efforts for peace. I myself was
one of the ministers who was involved in drafting this statement. I would like to repeat that
this is the official position of the Government of Japan. During the summit meeting that I had
during my visit to China, I have made this point very clear in a frank manner to the Chinese
side. Premier Li Peng said that he concurs completely with my remarks" (Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Press Conference on: Visit of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to the People's
Republic of China).[56]
Letter from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pml
etter.html) to the former comfort women

The Year of 2001

Dear Madam,

On the occasion that the Asian Women's Fund, in cooperation with the Government and the
people of Japan, offers atonement from the Japanese people to the former wartime comfort
women, I wish to express my feelings as well.

The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that
time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women.

As Prime Minister of Japan, I thus extend anew my most sincere apologies and remorse to all
the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable
physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.

We must not evade the weight of the past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the
future.

I believe that our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of
apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to
future generations.

Furthermore, Japan also should take an active part in dealing with violence and other forms
of injustice to the honor and dignity of women.

Finally, I pray from the bottom of my heart that each of you will find peace for the rest of
your lives.

Respectfully yours,

Junichiro Koizumi

Prime Minister of Japan

 October 18, 2013: Prime Minister Shinzō Abe said: "Japan inflicted tremendous damage and
suffering on people in many countries, especially in Asia. The Abe Cabinet will take the
same stance as that of past Cabinets."[57]

Controversy
Demands for an apology and compensation have been a recurring topic in Korean, Taiwanese, and Chinese
politics. Western nations are also demanding long overdue actions from the Japanese government, most
notably through the United States House of Representatives House Resolution 121 voted in 2007.
Criticisms regarding the degree and formality of apology, issued as a statement or delivered person-to-
person to the country addressed, and the perception by some that some apologies are later retracted or
contradicted by statements or actions of Japan, among others.

In October 2006, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's apology was followed on the same day by a group of 80
Japanese lawmakers' visit to the Yasukuni Shrine which enshrines more than 1,000 convicted war
criminals.[58] Two years after the apology, Shinzo Abe also denied that the Imperial Japanese military had
forced comfort women into sexual slavery during World War II.[59] In addition, Prime Minister Abe
claimed that the Class A war criminals "are not war criminals under the laws of Japan".[60] He also cast
doubt on Murayama apology by saying, "The Abe Cabinet is not necessarily keeping to it" and by
questioning the definition used in the apology by saying, "There is no definitive answer either in academia
or in the international community on what constitutes aggression. Things that happen between countries
appear different depending on which side you're looking from."[61]

In 2010, one comfort woman from Taiwan stated, "It's unacceptable that the Japanese government still
refuses to apologize for what it did." Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou also declared, "It is the
responsibility of the Japanese government to admit its mistakes and apologize ... The battle is not over yet
and it is regretful that the Japanese government still refuses to face its mistakes."[62]

As of 2010, 24% of South Koreans still believe that Japan has never apologized for its colonial rule, while
another 58% believe Japan has not apologized sufficiently.[63]

Some in the Japanese government have expressed exasperation at what level of apology is enough. During
an impending visit in 1990 to Japan by South Korean president Roh Tae Woo Japanese cabinet secretary
Ozawa Ichiro reportedly said, "it is because we have reflected on the past that we cooperate with [South]
Korea economically. Is it really necessary to grovel on our hands and knees and prostrate ourselves any
more than we already have?"

In 2013, some of the right-wing population of Japan accused South Korea of hypocrisy, because Japan had
apologized and provided compensation for the sexual slavery it perpetrated during World War II yet South
Korea has failed to address the Lai Đại Hàn, sexual slavery South Korea perpetrated during the Vietnam
War.[64]

At the end of 2015, in response to the joint announcement by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida
and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se to “finally and irreversibly” resolve the “comfort
women” issue, some of the 46 remaining survivors expressed their discontent over the agreement. “It seems
neither government cares about the victims. I don't count what they have agreed today. What we want is
not monetary compensation but a legal one. We don’t want money. Those who commit crimes must take
official, legal responsibility. I will fight until the day I die,” said survivor Lee Yong-soo. However, survivor
Yu Hee-nam said, “I know the government has made efforts to resolve the issue within this year, so I’ll
follow their decision.” But she also said the agreement was not satisfactory. "Money is not the issue. We've
lived without human rights."[65]
Forms of apology

Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues also rebuffed the use of a word Owabi, not Shazai, in
those Japanese apologies. The coalition said, "the expression owabi in Japanese in most cases means a
sense of apology only slightly weightier than an Excuse me."[66]

In a paper published by Jeffrey Mok and Mitsuhiro Tokunaga, this is attributed to a mistranslation and
misunderstanding of the word Owabi. "The use of owabi was clearly appropriate in its formality and
degree of imposition. Both the authoritative dictionaries from Beijing Waiguoyu Xuexiao Japanese-Chinese
Dictionary and Iwanami Japanese-Chinese Dictionary categorized owabi as a formal and weighty
apologetic word. It was also commonly used as an official and formal way of apology and carried the same
degree of regret as other formal forms of apologetic words such as shazai, shinsha and chinsha. It was also
noted that shazai use was limited to print and was rare. Both owabi and chinsha （陳謝） were commonly
used as official and formal apologetic expression and neither was considered weaker than the other."[67]

Japanese government and Prime Ministers have used the expression "kokoro kara no owabi" that most
closely translates to "from our heart, most sincere apologies" about this issue.[68][69][70][71][72]

See also
Asian Women's Fund
Fusen Ketsugi
Japanese dissidence during the early Shōwa period
Japanese invasion money

Notes
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 ⽥原総⼀朗
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References
Bix, Herbert P. (2000). Hirohito and the making of modern Japan (1st ed.). New York, NY:
HarperCollinsPublishers. ISBN 0-06-019314-X. OCLC 43031388 (https://www.worldcat.org/
oclc/43031388).
Dower, John W. (1999). Embracing defeat : Japan in the wake of World War II (1st ed.). New
York: W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN 978-0-393-04686-1. OCLC 39143090 (https://www.worldcat.o
rg/oclc/39143090).
Dudden, Alexis (2008). Troubled apologies among Japan, Korea, and the United States.
New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-51204-6. OCLC 608623393 (https://
www.worldcat.org/oclc/608623393).
Funabashi, Yōichi (2003). Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific. Washington, D.C.: United
States Institute of Peace Press. ISBN 1-929223-47-1. OCLC 51755853 (https://www.worldca
t.org/oclc/51755853).
Lind, Jennifer M. (2008). Sorry states : apologies in international politics. Ithaca: Cornell
University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-6228-3. OCLC 747412418 (https://www.worldcat.org/ocl
c/747412418).

External links
Topics Related to Postwar Issues (http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/postwar/index.html) (Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Japan)
John W. Dower (professor of history at MIT), "Japan Addresses Its War Responsibility" (htt
p://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.4750978.0003.103)
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