Since the end of World War II, Japan has expressed its deep remorse for its role and brutality in Eastern Asia and has offered its sincere apologies. This year, though, on the 70th anniversary, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not issue an official apology and stated that future generations should not have to apologize either.

Eighty percent of Japan’s population was born after the war, and the growing sentiment is that Japan has apologized enough. The current population should be free from Japan’s historical obligation to make a yearly apology.

“We must not let our children, grandchildren, and even further generations to come, who have nothing to do with that war, be predestined to apologize,” Abe said.

The speech was closely monitored by Japan’s neighbors, South Korea and China. The fact that there was not an official statement of apology has been called “a diluted apology at best, and a crippled start to build trust among its neighbors.”

Many people think that Minister Abe’s “fine line of linguistic tricks” is an attempt to raise restrictions on Japan’s military which has been limited to defense since the end of the War.

-all information and quotes cited from the Chattanooga Times Free Press