The Abe administration's rejection of Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's revisionist views has apparently eased U.S. concerns that Japan was giving China an easy opening to exploit and drive a wedge between Washington and Tokyo.
Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera's dismissal Saturday of recent remarks by Hashimoto, co-leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), on wartime military brothels was a positive message to Washington before President Barack Obama meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and Saturday in California, the first U.S.-China summit since Xi became head of state in March.
A senior U.S. Defense Department official said Washington was "very supportive" of Onodera's statement, which is considered a reaffirmation by the Abe government of remorse for "tremendous damage and suffering" Japan caused in Asia.