The high point of Shinzo Abe’s week-long visit to America comes today, when he becomes the first Japanese prime minister to address a joint session of Congress. After yesterday’s meeting with Barack Obama, Mr Abe is expected to extol the two countries’ strengthened defence co-operation as the foundation of peace and prosperity in East Asia. He will praise a trade deal currently under negotiation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, involving America, Japan and ten other countries. Yet the address will be haunted by the second world war. Mr Abe must find the right language to acknowledge imperial Japan’s mistreatment of American prisoners of war and the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Others will be listening, too: China and South Korea will note how closely he emulates previous prime ministers’ statements on Japan’s wartime atrocities. His words may offer a close guide to his stance at the 70th anniversary of the conflict’s end in August.