Regarding the story "Abe 'not planning war apology' " in the May 24 edition, if Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fails to make a full and sincere apology for Japan's wartime aggression and maltreatment of the so-called "comfort women," then it's very probable that he will be written off and forgotten as a minor arrogant politician lacking in humility and a sense of reality; whereas Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono will be long remembered for their statesmanship and honesty.
Abe might be regarded as a very great statesman if he could overcome his pride and correct his distorted sense of history. He cannot merely sweep this matter under the carpet and place emphasis on Japan's future policy.
Japan will never be trusted in the international arena until this problem is totally resolved by a full-scale apology such as that made by Germany.
Abe may one day deeply regret missing this golden opportunity to establish his heritage as a leader of foresight, moral integrity and wisdom. As it is, he is more than likely to be regarded as one of the villains of Japanese history.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.