Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his condolences to the American victims of World War II, but did not mention the comfort women before a joint meeting of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on April 29.

Abe, who was the first Japanese prime minister to address the U.S. Congress, said, "History is harsh. What is done cannot be undone," and added, "My dear friends, on behalf of Japan and the Japanese people, I offer with profound respect my eternal condolences to the souls of all American people that were lost during World War II." This day, Prime Minister Abe cited the fact that the grandson of a Japanese soldier and an American general who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945 were seated together and said, "What should we call this, if not a miracle of history? Enemies that had fought each other so fiercely have become friends bonded in spirit."

Abe also mentioned Asian countries. "Post war, we started out on our path bearing in mind feelings of deep remorse over the war. Our actions brought suffering to the peoples in Asian countries. We must not avert our eyes from that. I will uphold the views expressed by the previous prime ministers in this regard," he said. He repeated the previous position that Japan will inherit the Murayama Statement, but made no apology for Japan's history of colonial rule and aggression. Instead, Abe stressed that Japan will do better in the future.

Prime Minister Abe also said, "Armed conflicts have always made women suffer the most. In our age, we must realize the kind of world where finally women are free from human rights abuses." The day before, at a press conference with U.S. President Barack Obama, the prime minister had received the question on whether he had any intention to apologize for the comfort women issue. Abe had replied, "My heart pains at the thought of the comfort women who fell victim to slave trafficking and the suffering they must have endured. We will stand by the Kono Statement, and have no intention to modify the statement."

In this day's speech, Prime Minister Abe expressed his gratitude to the U.S. mentioning that Japan was able to grow into the current nation from the rubbles of war with the help of the U.S. and said Japan would take on more roles for world peace and prosperity. He said he would contribute $2.8 billion to improve the U.S. military base in Guam and promised to drive the momentum from the revised U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation Guidelines and finalize the legislation of bills concerning security within Japan by this summer. As for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), Abe said, "As for U.S.-Japan negotiations, the goal is near. Let us bring the TPP to a successful conclusion through our joint leadership."