When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes his visit to Pearl Harbor, just after Christmas, it will be a dovish act that masks a hawkish intent.

There can be no doubt that when Mr Abe stands shoulder to shoulder with US President Barack Obama at the scene of his country’s 1941 attack on Hawaii — the first Japanese leader to go to the site — he will be carrying out a deeply meaningful gesture of reconciliation.

It reciprocates Mr Obama’s historic visit to Hiroshima in remembrance of up to 80,000 people who died when the US used an atomic weapon against the city in 1945. It also follows Japan’s surprising diplomatic approaches to former foes. These include an agreement with South Korea over women forced into prostitution during the second world war, sealed about a year ago. Tokyo issued an apology and pledged $8m to surviving victims; both sides called the deal “final and irrevocable”.