The declaration was not delivered until almost an hour after the surprise attack, and documents declassified Sunday said the ministry had blundered by failing to give Japan's embassy in Washington sufficient warning of its urgent task.
"It is extremely regrettable that such a thing happened, which we consider inexcusable," ministry spokesman Terusuke Terada said Monday.
The raid against the U.S. Pacific Fleet, on Dec. 7, 1941, killed 2,400 people and destroyed 120 U.S. planes and 19 ships. The United States entered World War II the following day.
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