Shinzō Abe on Comfort Women

Shinzō Abe's core position on the issue of comfort women has been to affirm the apologies issued by previous Japanese prime ministers, most notably the Kono Statement. He has repeatedly stated that he is no different from preceding leaders in feeling pained by the immeasurable suffering experienced by the women. However, his stance has drawn criticism for being perceived as a defense of the official position, which does not always explicitly confirm direct coercion by the Japanese military in the recruitment process, leading to perceived attempts to re-examine or downplay aspects of the historical record. This has been interpreted by critics as a move to align with a conservative historical revisionism, which has fueled diplomatic tensions.

This perceived ambiguity and reluctance to issue new, specific apologies contrasts with the expectations of victims' groups and some international bodies, which have urged Japan to acknowledge responsibility and take further measures. His administration has faced scrutiny for suggesting reviews into the background of the Kono Statement, though he ultimately announced the government would not revise it. The political environment in Japan during his tenure has been described as making objective historical inquiry into the subject less hospitable, leading to diplomatic friction with South Korea.