Japan says sorry for bombing Darwin

[cliff]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8402728

from a Channel Nine news article.

Japan's government has used a gathering in Darwin to apologise for the country's bombing of the city during World War II.

Japan's Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Tadahiro Matsushita, told a signing ceremony for the $US34 billion Ichthys gas project that he was sorry for his country's actions.

"I am aware that this year is the 70th anniversary of Darwin's bombing and during a certain period in the not-too-distant past, Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries," Mr Matsushita said.

"Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology.

"After the war, Japan has regenerated and developed with a pacifist constitution in order to contribute to world peace," he said.

Japanese officials have in the past apologised for the country's actions in World War II, but Mr Matsushita is believed to be the most senior politician to apologise on Northern Territory soil for the bombing of Darwin.

He said that since the war Australia and Japan had developed a friendship based on mutual trust.

Japan conducted 64 air raids on Darwin between February 1942 and November 1943.

It is thought 243 people died, with hundreds more injured.

Most of Darwin's civil and military facilities were destroyed

Other towns in northern Australia including Townsville, Katherine, Wyndham, Derby, Broome and Port Hedland were also bombed by Japanese aircraft.