TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's gaffe-prone deputy prime minister on Thursday retracted controversial remarks that suggested Tokyo could learn from Nazi Germany when it comes to constitutional reform.
"It is regrettable that my remarks over the Nazi administration led to a misunderstanding, which was not my intention," Mr Taro Aso, who is also finance minister, said as he read a statement to reporters.
"It is clear from all my remarks that I have an extremely negative view of the events involving the Nazis and the Weimar constitution. But I want to retract the use of the Nazi administration as an example because that invited the misunderstanding."
Mr Aso's latest comments came as Tokyo moved to distance itself from his remarks, insisting it did not reflect the view of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative administration.
"It is regrettable that my remarks over the Nazi administration led to a misunderstanding, which was not my intention," Mr Taro Aso, who is also finance minister, said as he read a statement to reporters.
"It is clear from all my remarks that I have an extremely negative view of the events involving the Nazis and the Weimar constitution. But I want to retract the use of the Nazi administration as an example because that invited the misunderstanding."
Mr Aso's latest comments came as Tokyo moved to distance itself from his remarks, insisting it did not reflect the view of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative administration.
