Abe declines to admit class-A war criminals' responsibility for war

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Abe declines to admit class-A war criminals' responsibility for war

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo declined to admit class-A war criminals' responsibility for the Japan's past war by stating, "It's not appropriate for the government to determine it (their responsibility)."

Abe made this remark in answer to a question asked by Democratic Party Secretary General Hatoyama Yukio at the House of Representatives plenary session on October 2.

Concerning class-A war criminals' responsibility, former Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on June 2, 2005 stated, "My understanding is that they were war criminals."

Thus, Abe's remark clearly moved beyond that of Koizumi.

With regard to the Tokyo Trial, Abe stated, "Under the San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan accepted the court decision. Therefore, Japan is not in a position to express an objection."
- Akahata, October 3, 2006