When Germany capitulated 60 years ago and the gruesome details of the slaughter of Jews, homosexuals and other "Enemies of the Nazi Third Reich" became known to the world, a correct attitude of repentance and remorse by the new German Government has, until this day, impressed all.

This attitude also helped the German population to come to terms with the murderous past of some of their contemporaries and forebears, assisted by the correct presentation of the crimes in German school history textbooks.

Billions of Deutsche marks have been given in development aid to the infant state of Israel which was supported in a quest to provide a haven for the long-suffering Jewish diaspora with a solemn promise of "Never Again".

Even today, after having said "sorry" hundreds of times, German leaders attend commemorations such as the recent memorial service at the crematoria of the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where tens of thousands of Jews fell victim to the "Final Solution" by the Nazis.

Of course, the world has not forgotten the crimes committed during the Nazi era, yet, admired the new Germany for its courageous stand and public show of remorse and repentance.

On the other side of the globe, Japan committed equally barbaric crimes to Korea and China. Its troops were also despised occupiers in Malaysia, Singapore and many strategically important islands in the South Pacific.

Millions of civilians perished under brutal Japanese enslavement; dozens of chopped-off heads of perceived anti-Japanese Singaporeans were perched on bridge poles for weeks in Singapore to frighten the population into obedience. Until today, official Japanese responses have termed them "unfortunate incidents".

Thousands of Asia's prettiest maidens were forced into sex slavery to quench the lust of Japanese soldiers. Well documented too, are the hundreds of thousands of unarmed Chinese citizens who were massacred in Nanjing where Japanese officers held contests on how many local civilian heads could be chopped off in a day. All these facts have been well researched, verified and notarized and are beyond dispute.

Except in Japan, that is.

I have seen Japanese tourists crying at the Nanjing memorial, where the bayonet marks are clearly visible on the bones of partly excavated civilian bodies of adults and children resting in the hastily dug mass-graves.

"Nobody in Japan has ever told us how barbaric our nationals have behaved in China," they admitted.

How is it possible that an apparently cultured and polite nation such as Japan, with an enviable record of rebuilding their war-torn land, continues to kow-tow to a few fanatics on the ultra-right side of its political spectrum?

Sure, it would be easiest for the Koreas and China and all the Asian nations who suffered so much at the hand of Imperial Japan to shut up and put their money where their mouth is.

But would that be right?

The solution for the Japanese is such a simple one.

Forget about misplaced Asian pride. Forget about "face". The younger generation of Japanese are not to blame. It would be best for Japan to take a pragmatic approach and take a leaf from the German book before it is too late.

Just say "sorry" once more and show that Japan means it this time, by correcting the school textbooks, and by removing the nameplates of the convicted war criminals from the Yasukuni Shrine. This should be no problem as they were convicted by an international court and hanged in disgrace. Japan's officials may then visit the shrine as they desire without offending anyone.

For the territorial disputes of the East China Sea where there are possible oil and mineral deposits and fishing rights involved, the solution would be joint development with shared benefits until international arbitration settles matters once and for all.

Indeed, Japan should say sorry once again to their neighbours and to the whole world. And this time supported by deeds that allow the neighbours to give Japan a final absolution.

Japan should acknowledge in all its school history books the hegemonic designs of the Japanese Imperial Army, the murderous expansionism and annexation of foreign lands, and the wanton disregard of human rights. Films and eyewitness reports of the crimes should be part of the school curriculum. A government directive should be issued to inculcate the students with "Never Again" from the heart.

The world and especially Japan's neighbours will never forget but, quite likely, will forgive a truly repentant Japan. Then a sincere "Never Again" might actually ring true.