Japan’s PM Mentions Wartime ‘Regret,’ Toeing Right-Wing Line
Shigeru Ishiba bows during the memorial ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing at the Peace Park in Nagasaki, on Aug. 9, 2025.
Photographer: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty ImagesJapanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba commemorated the millions who died in World War Two and expressed regret, following speculation over whether he would make a strong statement on Japan’s wartime atrocities and risk anger from the right-leaning factions of his own party.
“We must never repeat the tragedy of war. We must never choose the wrong path again. We must etch deeply into our hearts the regret and lessons of that war,” Ishiba said in a speech on Friday.