Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed “deep repentance” over his country’s role in World War Two, during a landmark speech to the US Congress.<br /><br /> The first Japanese premier to address such a gathering, his English was slow and deliberate.<br /><br /> But Abe’s message was deeply symbolic of the reconciliation between former World Two enemies who are now the closest of allies. <br /><br /> “On behalf of Japan and Japanese people, I offer with profound respect my eternal condolences to the souls of all American people that were lost during World War Two,” he said.<br /><br /> Abe spoke from the spot where President Roosevelt asked for a declaration of war against Imperial Japan after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbour.<br /><br /> And 70 years after Japan’s defeat, he spoke of feeling ‘deep repentance’ on visiting Washington’s World War Two memorial.<br /><br /> But there was no apology from Abe for his country’s wartime conduct, including its treatment of thousands of Asian women forced into prostitution at Japanese military b
