Marking his first appearance at an annual ceremony on Thursday.... marking the end of World War II,.. Japanese Emperor (na-roo-hee-toe) Naruhito expressed "deep remorse" over Japan's role in the war,... and pledged to reflect on the country's wartime past.
Being the first emperor born after the war,... his remarks closely followed the stance of his father Akihito,... who abdicated in May.
The new emperor pledged to reflect on Tokyo's past aggressions,... while expressing hope that such horrors should never be repeated.
In contrast,... Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refused to acknowledge Japan's wartime atrocities.
He instead give a speech on Thursday outlining what he perceives to be a long list of damage inflicted on Japan and its people.