South Korean media reported on Wednesday that former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama paid a visit to the site of a colonial-era prison. He knelt down and paid his respects to Korean independence fighters who were killed at the prison by the Japanese during the colonial rule (1910-45). He said he wants to express "deep remorse" and state a "heartfelt apology."

South Korea showed enthusiasm and respect for Hatoyama's apology. A Korean netizen said that Hatoyama, in a second, got 50 million fans in South Korea. Some also called for the incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to follow Hatoyama's example.

However, it is a pity that Hatoyama has been marginalized in the Japanese political arena. He only has limited influence in Japan's mainstream society. It is Abe and his nationalist and aggressive clique that represent Japan's voice to the outside.

The Abe-led clique does not only have distorted notions of history, but also wrong conceptions of honor and disgrace.

Apologies and repentance are generally believed to be a sign of self-esteem, but regarded as cowardice by Abe. They think refusing to offer a proper apology for war crimes means they have courage, and diluting Japan's wartime atrocities and denying the post-WWII order mean they love Japan.

Abe might have more complicated understandings of this case than others, but he has left a negative impression on the rest of the world. The more hawkish he is on historical issues, the more unlikely it is that the feud will be resolved.

Abe will deliver a speech on Friday, one day before the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in WWII. We hope Abe can grasp this opportunity, change his mindset and make a clear apology for Japan's aggression during WWII. If so, that will be the most sensational news this year. He will be treated with unprecedented respect by the international community.

Hatoyama's apology makes us believe that part of Japanese society is sober on historical issues. Whether the truth can be revealed more to the public depends on Abe.

The Abe administration should realize that Japan's amity with the US does not mean Washington agrees with it on history.

The US-Japan alliance is only a result of geopolitics, and no country admires Japan's intention to reverse history. Condemnation will continue if the Abe administration is still so headstrong. In the end, the entire country will fall victim to this historical feud.