Without soul-searching it is impossible for an unrepentant Japan to win the trust of its East Asian neighbors

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declined to say whether he will visit the Yasukuni Shrine on Aug 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, but he has made it clear that he will not stop his cabinet ministers from visiting the war-linked shrine on that day. Tomomi Inada, the minister in charge of administrative reform, has received approval from the prime minister's office after voicing his intention to visit the shrine.

Visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese cabinet members and politicians on Aug 15 will blatantly challenge the current international order and justice, and seriously hurt the feelings of the people of the Asian countries that suffered from Japanese atrocities and could have serious consequences for the region's peace and stability.