Japanese media say anti-Japan sentiment in South Korea is not as high as before.

The major daily Tokyo Shimbun said Sunday that South Korean media recently aired reports and programs marking the centennial anniversary of Japan's forced annexation of the Korean Peninsula, but that strong anti-Japan sentiment has declined in South Korea.

The daily says South Korea is growing more confident of itself thanks to economic growth and the hosting of the G20 summit.

The report, however, says relations between Seoul and Tokyo could worsen if Japan issues a defense white paper next month claiming the Dokdo islets as Japanese territory.

Another major Japanese newspaper, the Sankei Shimbun, also says that on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the annexation, many voices have urged Japan's apology and compensation for South Korea, but that anti-Japan sentiment is subsiding after Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's apology.