TOKYO, March 10 -- Japanese media and public on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to face up to history squarely, citing German Chancellor Angela Merkel's words"facing World War II crimes is key to reconciliation"during a lecture in Tokyo.

As the lecture's sponsor, the Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday that"It's a surprise that Merkel, who is always cautious in speech, to mention history problem directly when visiting Japan." "Given the progress of the summit, Japan and German have different opinions in historical recognition,"the newspaper said, adding"Merkel referred to German's own experience, but Abe did not respond accordingly." "Merkel cited the late German President Richard Von Weizsaecker' s famous 1985 speech in which he called the end of WWII in Europe a'day of liberation,'showing clearly that confront history squarely is the precondition for German to be accepted by international community,"head of Seigakuin University Kang Sang- jung said.

Political scientists believed it is an important message Merkel delivered to Japan, which could also be regarded as an indirect suggestion to Abe's landmark war-anniversary statement scheduled for August.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said Merkel's declaration revealed her dissatisfaction with Japan's attitude when solving relations with neighboring countries."She hopes Japan's relations with its close neighboring countries will not be worse."

Masaru Kaneko, a professor of Japan's Keio University, criticized Japan's non-action in taking wartime responsibility." Moreover, the government (of Abe) is trying to rebuild the militarism system. It's truly a setback."

Former Prime Minister of Japan Tomiichi Murayama on Monday stated his own worries related to the 1995 statement issued in his name. "Abe may want to water down and make changes to (the Murayama statement) that acknowledged and apologized for Japan's colonial rule and aggression,"Murayama said on a TV program."Changing the sentiment of that statement could negate all of its benefits to Japan,"he stressed.

Shinichi Kitaoka, the acting chief of an advisory panel on Abe' s 70th anniversary statement, also said on Monday that he wants the prime minister to acknowledge Japan waged"a war of invasion"in the statement.