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Well, it's official now. The Cabinet has thrown Japan's diplomats under the bus:

慰安婦問題、強制連行の証拠なし　政府
Sankei Shimbun

政府は１６日の閣議で、慰安婦問題で謝罪と反省を表明した平成５年の河野洋平官房長官談話に関し、「政府が発見した資料の中には、軍や官憲によるいわゆる強制連行を直接示す記述は見当たらなかった」とする答弁書を決定した。

また、河野談話について「閣議決定はされていないが、歴代の内閣が継承している」としたうえで、今後も「閣議決定することは考えていない」と強調した。社民党の辻元清美衆院議員の質問主意書に答えた。

Let's see how that first quote renders into English, shall we?

"Within the documentary materials uncovered by the Government of Japan, we have not seen any notation directly linking the military or civil authorities with what is called 'the forcible taking (of individuals)'."

Of course, someone might have uncovered something somewhere else, but as for the hard working, dedicated truthseekers in the government...no luck.

The second quote is even better for the poor sods at the Embassies in Seoul, Beijing, Manila, Washington, the Netherlands...you get the picture:

"While the Kono Statement has never been endorsed by a Cabinet, cabinets have come to inherit it...This Cabinet has no intention of endorsing the Kono Statement (kakugikettei sure koto wa kangaete nai)."

Well, I guess that just about does it for the "Japan has officially apologized" line of argument, eh?

That this latest fiasco comes in response to questions from Tsujimoto Kiyomi is just too rich.