Japan marked the 80th anniversary of its WWII surrender with PM Shigeru Ishiba expressing "remorse" for the first time since 2013. About 4,500 officials and families observed a moment of silence.View

Japan on Friday marked the 80th anniversary of its surrender to Allied forces in World War II, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressing “remorse” at the national memorial service for war casualties — the first time a Japanese prime minister has used the word in an Aug. 15 speech since 2012.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed “remorse” over the war in an Aug. 15 address. The regretful behavior reflects a change in perception of Japan’s actions during World War II, as former premier Shinzo Abe shunned the topic in 2013.