TOKYO -- Japan commemorated the 72nd anniversary of its surrender in World War II on Tuesday, with thousands of people attending a ceremony to pay tribute to the more than 3 million Japanese who perished in the conflict. Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were among those attending the annual event in Tokyo. In his speech, Abe, who has been criticized for downplaying Japan's wartime atrocities, made no mention of the country's wartime aggression in Asia. The premier is expected to refrain from visiting the controversial shrine himself, though dozens of legislators offered prayers there. Visits to the site by political leaders regularly provoke anger in neighbouring countries, especially China and South Korea, which see them as glorifying Japan's wartime aggression.

Source: The China Post August 15, 2017 09:11 UTC