Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday apologized
for Tokyo's wartime colonization and invasions in Asia on occasion
of the 60th anniversary of the country's surrender.
Koizumi also pledged Japan would never forget the "terrible
lessons" of the war.
In a statement, the Japanese prime minister expressed his "deep
reflections and heartfelt remorse" for the damages caused by Japan
during World War II.
"Japan is resolved to contribute to world peace and prosperity
without starting a war again," he said in the statement, which the
cabinet approved earlier Monday, on the 60th anniversary of the end
of WWII.
(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2005)