Japanese Emperor Akihito has expressed "deep remorse" over events in the Second World War on the 70th anniversary of the end of the conflict.

He said: "Looking back at the past, together with deep remorse over the war, I pray that this tragedy of war will not be repeated and together with the people, express my deep condolences for those who fell in battle and in the ravages of war, and pray for world peace and the further prosperity of our country."

The comment was a departure from his annual script and could be viewed as a subtle rebuke of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

It comes after Mr Abe expressed "utmost grief" for the suffering Japan inflicted in the war, but said future generations should not have to keep apologising for past mistakes.

Mr Abe, who is seen by critics as a revisionist who wants to play down the dark parts of Japan's past, offered no fresh apology of his own.

The soft-spoken emperor has often urged his country not to forget the suffering of the conflict and has tried to promote reconciliation with other Asian countries.

The war still haunts relations between Japan and the likes of China and South Korea, which suffered under Tokyo's sometimes brutal occupation and colonial rule until Japan was defeated in 1945.

His comments have attracted increased attention at a time when Mr Abe seems to be pushing for a less apologetic tone with regards to the nation's past.

Emperor Akihito has expressed remorse previously, but not at the annual service.

He is banned by the constitution from having any political role, so any public remarks he makes need to be carefully nuanced.

International response

On Saturday, Mr Abe sent a ritual cash offering to Yasukuni Shrine for war dead but he did not visit the shrine, which is seen in China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism.

Visits by top Japanese politicians anger China and South Korea because the shrine honours 14 Japanese leaders who were convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal.

Mr Abe's remarks received mixed reviews abroad.

The US welcomed his commitment to uphold apologies made in the past.

Washington approves of Mr Abe's plans to play a greater security role in Asia in the face of a rising China.

China said Japan should apologise sincerely to countries that suffered from its aggression and urged Tokyo to "take concrete actions to gain the trust of its Asian neighbours and the global community".

South Korea's president, Park Geun-hye, said Seoul was focused on Mr Abe's decision to uphold previous cabinets' understanding of history.

But she added that the speech contained "regrettable elements" and said she hoped Japan would "soon and properly" resolve issues regarding women's "honour and dignity".

Mr Abe said on Friday said Japan should "never forget that there were women behind the battlefields whose honour and dignity were severely injured".

However, he made no direct reference to "comfort women", a euphemism for the girls and women, many of whom were Korean, who were forced into prostitution in Japanese military brothels.

Japan and South Korea have long been at odds over the issue, with Seoul saying Tokyo has not done enough to atone for their suffering, despite a 1993 apology.

North Korea, which Japan has no diplomatic ties to, condemned what it called "an attempt of the Japanese rightist conservatives to conceal its crime-woven past".

Meanwhile in London and across the UK, veterans and former prisoners of war will mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day.

Among those attending will be members of the Royal family and the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Celebrations erupted on the streets of Britain on 14 August, 1945, and 15 August was officially named VJ Day