Abe’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party has also said it wants to upgrade Japan’s self defence forces into a full fledged military, which would mean overhauling a pacifist constitution imposed on the country by the US and its allies after WWII.
Later Tuesday, the forces’ naval arm was due to hold a ceremony marking the launch of a 248 metre (810 foot) helicopter carrier which can accommodate nine aircraft.
Officials said the ceremony was scheduled for the same day as the Hiroshima anniversary due to favourable ocean tides and an auspicious date.