Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent visit to the United States was, by most accounts, a success. While some may argue over which words he did or did not use, he essentially told his American audiences what they wanted to hear.
In addition to underscoring the vital importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and his government's commitment to continued peace and prosperity, he acknowledged Japan's past sins: "Our actions brought suffering to the peoples in Asian countries. We must not avert our eyes from that. I will uphold the views expressed by the previous prime ministers in this regard." With "deep repentance in my heart," Abe also offered "my eternal condolences to the souls of all American people that were lost during World War II."
During a stop in Boston, in response to a student's question, he even addressed the highly sensitive "comfort women" issue: "My heart aches when I think about the people who were victimized by human trafficking and who were subject to immeasurable pain and suffering, beyond description. On this score my feeling is no different from my predecessor prime ministers."
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