The gap between Japan and its neighbors over war history is deepening, with Chinese and Koreans sharply critical of Tokyo but most Japanese believing they have apologized enough, a survey said Thursday.
The survey by the US-based Pew Research Center found overwhelming sentiment in South Korea and China that Japan has not shown enough contrition, with a mere one percent of South Koreans saying Tokyo has apologized sufficiently.
Perceptions have worsened in recent years, with the percentage of South Koreans who see Japan favorably slipping by 25 points since 2008 and the same figure sliding by 17 percentage points in China.
Only 22 percent of South Koreans and four percent of Chinese said they saw Japan in a positive light, according to the survey, which polled adults in eight nations by telephone or in person in March or early April.
Bruce Stokes, the report's author, said there was not data to determine whether hardening attitudes were linked to the return to power in December of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is known for his conservative views of history.
But Stokes said that the attitudes were clearly influenced by a series of incidents including Japan's approval of controversial textbooks and statements questioning the facts behind "comfort women."
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