Hatoyama apologizes for wartime atrocities in China  

鸠山由纪夫在港为日侵华道歉 一人被杀也不可接受

日本前首相鸠山由纪夫近日获香港城市大学颁授荣誉法学博士，13日应邀出席城大讲座担任主讲嘉宾。他致辞时两次为日军侵华暴行道歉，并认为即使国家处于战争时期这些暴行也不可接受；而作为日本平民，他有义务为此向中国人民致歉。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama offered a personal apology for Japan's wartime atrocities in China.

Hatoyama made the remarks during a speech at the City University of Hong Kong after he received an honorary doctorate on Wednesday.

"As a Japanese citizen, I feel that it's my duty to apologize for even just one Chinese civilian killed brutally by Japanese soldiers, and that such action cannot be excused by saying that it occurred during war," he said.

Hatoyama also said historical revisionism promoted by the Japanese government under the leadership of Shinzo Abe has added to tensions in the East China Sea.

He criticized Japan's administration for complicating strained relations between China and Japan.

"Japanese officials' visits to Yasukuni Shrine honoring wartime heroes have infuriated peoples in the two Asian countries," said Hatoyama, who added that such behavior made him feel embarrassed to be Japanese.