2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Many observers feared Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, regarded as a nationalist and history revisionist, might stir up sentiment and further aggravate Japan's already strained relations with China and South Korea.
However, the year ended with the opposite result: On Monday Abe managed to clinch a deal to "finally and irreversibly" settle the long-standing "comfort women" issue with South Korea.
He also won agreements with Beijing and Seoul on Nov. 1 to resume their annual trilateral summits, significantly improving diplomacy with the two countries.