Recent diplomatic events indicate that South Korea has taken a hard stance toward Japan over the perception of 20th century history in Asia, including the issue of sex slavery under the Imperial Japanese armed forces.
The Abe administration cannot be too cautious in handling the historical perception issue as well as territorial disputes with neighboring countries. Kindling nationalism on any side should be avoided at any cost because this would greatly damage Japan's relations with both South Korea and China.
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his South Korean counterpart, Mr. Yun Byung-se, met in Brunei on July 1 — the first meeting between the Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers in nearly nine months. Mr. Yun had canceled his visit to Tokyo in April because Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, two other Cabinet members and many lawmakers visited Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Japan's war dead including Class-A war criminals. Already cool bilateral ties grew chillier.