http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,7369,1466514,00.html
The Japanese prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, today moved to halt a slide in his country’s relations with China by apologising for his country’s aggression during the second world war.
In a speech to leaders gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia for the Asia-Africa summit, Mr Koizumi expressed “deep remorse” for his country’s actions against its Asian neighbours.
In recent weeks, massive anti-Japanese protests have taken place in major Chinese cities over Tokyo’s approval of a new history textbook that the Chinese say glosses over Japan’s wartime atrocities, including mass sex slavery and germ warfare. Demonstrations have also focused on Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN security council.