attitudes foreigners japanese hold unique aspects language culture japanese generally find far easier deal foreingers japanese unease lead unappealing attitudes behaviors japanese maintain clear distinction individual public private faces rare catch expressing hostile views foreigners nevertheless every politician remarks land trouble might find enclosed article interesting way ishihara spent two weeks denying done anything wrong apologized past couple days regards eugenio ishihara acknowledges word inappropriate yomiuri shimbun tokyo gov shintaro ishihara late wednesday acknowledged statement inappropriate used word sangokujin said regrets caused misunderstanding hurting foreigners general using derogatory term recent speech first time ishihara clearly admitted hurt foreign residents using word discriminatory connotations sangokujin literally means people third countries yet used world war ii derisory term people former japanese colonies primarily koreans living japan april 9 told members ground self defense forces tokyo ceremony atrocious crimes committed repeatedly sangokujin foreigners illegally entered japan expected riot event major disaster although used word refer illegally entered country different meaning meant say said intend hurt korean foreign residents japan extremely regretful ishihara said statement promising would never use inappropriate word prone cause misunderstanding april 14 expressed regret remarks stopped short acknowledging derogatory import word sangokujin failed apologize hurt feelings foreigners wednesday statement made response demands metropolitan assembly members minshuto democratic party japan asking retract remarks make public apology ishihara handed statement senior minshuto members assembly held meeting earlier day statement ishihara affix governor official seal become official document hidejiro kawai secretary general minshuto group within assembly said official document carries weight tantamount governor withdrawal remarks apology indicating group take matter