The Emperor of Japan repented for wartime crimes, but the Japanese Prime Minister remained silent
Emperor Akihito of Japan expressed regret that his country entered World War II, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The monarch's words are reported by the Associated Press.
At a ceremony in Tokyo to mark the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II, Akihito said he felt deep remorse as he reflected on his country's past.
He also hoped that such a bloody war would never happen again. According to the emperor, he is praying for world peace.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also spoke at the event and paid tribute to the memory of people who died during the war. At the same time, unlike the monarch, he decided not to express his regrets in connection with Japan's actions.
In April next year, Akihito plans to abdicate the throne and pass it on to his heir. In 2017, the authorities passed a law that allows the emperor to do this. Akihito has been on the throne since 1989 and is currently 74 years old. On August 165, 1945, the father of the current Emperor Hirohito issued a statement about the complete surrender of Japan, thereby marking the end of World War II. Formally, the surrender documents were signed on September 2 of the same year.