Fifty and then 60 years after the war, Prime Ministers MURAYAMA Tomiichi and KOIZUMI Junichiro respectively marked the occasion by apologizing, using the phrases “under colonial rule,” “aggression,” “deep remorse,” and “heartfelt apology.” Prime Minister ABE Shinzo’s statement, which was released 70 years after the war, also contained these phrases which express regret for Japan’s behavior towards foreign nations, and most especially Asian nations. In addition to this, Abe’s statement included mention of the process that led Japan to enter the conflict, postwar Japan, and moreover a pledge to pursue peace, making it rather long. It started with the advance of colonial rule driven by Western powers, that threatened to engulf Japan in the 19th century, and the sense of impending crisis that drove Japan to modernize. Then he mentioned that the Japanese economy suffered serious damage from the tendency of Western countries to band together and block its growth, which led to the mistaken attempt to resolve the problem with force. As many quotations and indirect expressions were used in this statement, there’s been criticism that it does not communicate the impression of being an apology made on behalf of the Japanese people. On the other hand, others have the opinion that it was done skillfully, taking into account all different viewpoints. The statement says that, “Japan will firmly uphold basic rules such as freedom, democracy and human rights as inviolable values by working hand in hand with countries that share such values…” Bearing in mind Japan’s current international relations, this may be interpreted as a remark directed towards China and the USA. China and Korea take the view that Japan has not yet delivered a heartfelt apology. Some people say that Asian countries occupied by Western countries have not demanded apologies from these invaders. Abe’s statement mentions that as over 80% of the population is now of the postwar generation, we must not allow our children, grandchildren and their descendants to come, be fated to continue apologizing. He also mentions that even so, we must squarely face up to the past.