Abe must say ‘sorry’

The modern, peace-loving nation of Japan cannot afford to continue carrying the scarlet letter of refusing to acknowledge its terrible deeds in World War II ( BP, Aug 15).

PM Shinzo Abe’s refusal to voice a clearcut apology and offer full financial compensation for his nation’s aggression and bloody occupation of large parts of Asia places it directly opposite its war-time ally Germany, which has repeatedly done both. Another issue the world must not overlook is the way Japanese textbooks present their nation’s guilt in the war, or rather the lack thereof.

Again, German textbooks are blunt in detailing history the way it was, so a German student knows what happened, while a Japanese student will tend to think that nothing too horrible took place.

Mr Abe’s attempts to exempt his nation from saying sorry now and in the future are a disgrace.

ANDY LEITNER