A commentary of Rodong Sinmun Saturday says that the sincere efforts of Germany to take leave of past crimes command deep sympathy of the international community.

Unlike Germany, Japanese ruling quarter takes much pain to justify the heinous crimes committed by Japan against humanity in the past, the commentary says, and goes on:

Every year Japanese rulers pay a group visit to Yasukuni Shrine where the remains of top-class war criminals including Hideki Tojo are interred, despite the international condemnation. They are also describing the death of the war criminals as "sacrifice for peace and prosperity of Asia". They are insisting on the burglary logic that the judgment made at the Far Eastern Military Tribunal was the decision made by victor nations and therefore they could not be viewed as criminals in the light of the domestic law.

Without sincere apology and reflection on the past crimes Japan can neither get rid of the international denunciation nor raise its head any time.

Atonement for the sinful past is needed for the future of Japan.