Feature: Ordinary Japanese, heavyweight hope PM to include apology in war anniversary statement to reconcile with neighbors

It is unfortunate that Japan's relations with its neighbors have been scratched for years due to efforts here trying to deny its wartime atrocities, particularly by lawmakers, ministers and even the country's leader.

However, in Shibuya, a crowded commercial ward in downtown Tokyo, ordinary people shared with Xinhua their opinion on the perspective statement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with many saying that they think Abe should seek reconciliation with neighboring China and South Korea through including apology in his planned war anniversary statement.

The several easy talks are in line with a latest poll which said about 54.6 percent of 1,016 valid respondents think Abe should include regret and apology in terms of the country's past colonial rule and aggression in his statement for the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.

"I think it is important that Japan should build friendships with China and South Korea through the country's reflection to what it did in the war time. So it is natural to include apologies in the statement," said a sociologist in his 60s.

The professor, who identified himself as Hiromi, added that Japan have not done enough on facing up to wartime history, compared to Germany, saying the countries should all make efforts to improve their relationship.

"I am a professor, I have many Chinese students, and I think it is the key to our friendship to build more personal contacts apart from national level," the professor said.

"I think Abe should apologize because many people fell victims. He had better apologize in his statement," said a young girl at her 20s in green dress.

Another senior Japanese told Xinhua that Abe should express apology in the statement as "it is better to make it clear that bad things are bad."

However, a young man's comments may represent the 30.5 percent of the respondents in the survey that said such apology should not be a part of the so-called Abe Statement.

"I think apologies should not be included in the Abe statement. Of course, it is important to admit things happened in the past. But if apologies be included, we would be required to apologize for other things. And as a result, I think, this will make little progress in our talks," said the young man.

But he added that he thinks China and Japan have a strong connection in economy and hopes the two countries would deepen their relationship by citizen interaction including history recognition.

The war anniversary statement has drawn much attention within and without Japan since Abe intimated that he would not use the wording of "colonial rule" and "aggression" in the statement that is considered as the government perception of Japan's wartime history.

Former prime minister Tomiichi Murayama admitted Japan's war atrocities and offered an official apology in his world-recognized statement issued at the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII in 1995, while then prime minister Junichiro Koizumi also included the apology in 2005 at the 60th anniversary.

Meanwhile, Yohei Kono, former chief cabinet secretary and lower house speaker, said in an interview released Monday that if Abe is unwilling to admit "colonial rule" and "aggression" in his statement, the result will be very serious, as the change of the wording will become an international issue and would further exacerbate strained ties between Japan and its neighboring China and South Korea.

Kono, who issued a statement that offers an apology to more than 200,000 victims of comfort women in 1993, said in the interview with Japan's Kyodo News that what Japan needs in the sensitive year is something that could start a new page to improve ties with neighbors.

Other political heavyweights here and abroad, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, have urged Abe to look squarely at the country's wartime past. Endi