Abe praises Indian judge, tells Modi every Japanese knows Pal

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Narendra Modi that Japan still honours a dissenting Indian judge from a World War II military tribunal, a report said on Tuesday.

Judge Radhabinod Pal was the only dissenting voice among 11 Allied justices during the trial of Japan’s leaders at the international military tribunal after World War II.

Mr. Abe emphasised the two countries’ historical ties, saying, “Every Japanese knows [Pal],” Nikkeireported.

In 2007, Mr. Abe travelled to Kolkata to meet with Pal’s son.

Japanese nationalists like Mr. Abe hold Pal in high regard, and a monument to the judge was erected in 2005 at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honours the nation’s 2.5 million war dead, including convicted war criminals.