Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said on a number of occasions that he intends to issue a new statement on history in 2015, to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the World War II.

Former Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama issued a statement on Aug 15, 1995, the 50th anniversary of Japan's surrender, offering "deep remorse" and a "heartfelt apology" to people, particularly in Asia, whose suffering was caused by Japan's colonial rule and invasion of Asia.

"During a certain period in the not too distant past, Japan, following a mistaken national policy, advanced along the road to war, only to ensnare the Japanese people in a fateful crisis, and, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. In the hope that no such mistake be made in the future, I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology."