His son, Emperor Akihito, made his own speech in which he emphasised that Japan’s peace and prosperity stood on “the people’s tireless endeavours and their earnest desire for peace” and renewed his “deep remorse” over the war. It noted that Japan had repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its actions during the war.

Abe did vow that those other apologies would “remain unshakable”, effectively reassuring those who feared that he might attempt to revise history.

“On the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, I bow my head deeply before the souls of all those who perished both at home and overseas”, Abe said in a 25-minute live address on national television. He said this was also for millions of Japanese who died, some from the US atomic bombings.

Abe said that Japan must never again repeat the devastation of war, saying the countless lives of young people lost in countries that fought Japan leaves him speechless and rent with grief.

Since his re-election last December there had been growing interest and speculation as to what Abe would say on occasion of the anniversary – How far will he go in recognizing, and apologizing for, Japan’s aggression during the war, especially for its invasion of China and colonization of Korea – a period that was marked by brutal oppression and aggression?

Peter Kuznick, history professor at American University, said Abe tried to walk a tightrope between his own belief that Japan’s wartime behavior was generally acceptable and the collective moral judgment that Japan was an aggressor nation whose behavior was grotesque and indefensible.

While Abe, who has said he wants to fix ties with China and South Korea, did not visit Yasukuni in person, three of his cabinet ministers did along with the LDP’s policy chief, Tomomi Inada, and scores of other conservative lawmakers.

South Korean media reaction to Abe’s speech was largely negative, with the largest-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper accusing the Japanese premier of wrapping his message of regret over past aggressions inside a shell of justification.

Noting Japan’s constitutional pledge not to resort to force to settle global disputes, Abe said any disputes must be settled diplomatically based on the rule of law.

Thousands of South Korean protesters are expected to hold an anti-Japanese rally on Saturday. Taking the hammer out of their hands requires that Japan grasp the nettle of history and embrace a forthright reckoning, assume unequivocal responsibility, and express an unambiguous and emphatic apology.

Akihito had expressed remorse previously but not at the annual service.

Abe did promise, however, to “face the past” and “never to repeat the calamity of the war”.

He had also made waves by quibbling over the definition of “invade”, and provoked anger by downplaying Tokyo’s formalised system of sex slavery in military brothels. His late 2013 visit drew an angry response from Beijing and Seoul, as well as a rebuke from close ally Washington.