On
the 60th anniversary of the end of the war, I reaffirm
my determination that Japan must never again take
the path to war, reflecting that the peace and
prosperity we enjoy today are founded on the ultimate
sacrifices of those who lost their lives for the
war against their will.
More
than three million compatriots died in the war
- in the battle field thinking about their homeland
and worrying about their families, while others
perished amidst the destruction of war, or after
the war in remote foreign countries.
In
the past, Japan , through its colonial rule and
aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering
to the people of many countries, particularly to
those of Asian nations. Sincerely facing these
facts of history, I once again express my feelings
of deep remorse and heartfelt apology, and also
express the feelings of mourning for all victims,
both at home and abroad, in the war. I am determined
not to allow the lessons of that horrible war to
erode, and to contribute to the peace and prosperity
of the world without ever again waging a war.
After
the war, Japan rebuilt itself from a devastated
land owing to the ceaseless efforts of its people
and the assistance extended by many countries,
and accepted the San Francisco Peace Treaty, being
the first step of its reversion to the international
community. Japan has resolutely maintained its
principle of resolving all matters by peaceful
means and not by force, and proactively extended
material and personnel assistance for the sake
of the peace and prosperity of the world through
official development assistance (ODA) and United
Nations peace keeping operations.
Japan,s
post war history has indeed been six decades of
manifesting its remorse on the war through actions.
The
post war generations now exceed 70% of Japan's
population. Each and every Japanese, through his
or her own experience and peace-oriented education,
sincerely seeks international peace. Today, many
Japanese are actively engaged in activities for
peace and humanitarian assistance around the world,
through such organizations as the Japan Overseas
Cooperation Volunteers, and have been receiving
much trust and high appreciation from the local
people. Exchange with Asian countries in a wide
variety of areas, such as economy and culture,
has also increased on an unprecedented scale. I
believe it is necessary to work hand in hand with
other Asian countries, especially with China and
the Republic of Korea , which are Japan ’s
neighboring countries separated only by a strip
of water, to maintain peace and pursue the development
of the region. Through squarely facing the past
and rightly recognizing the history, I intend to
build a future-oriented cooperative relationship
based on mutual understanding and trust with Asian
countries.
The
international community is now faced with more
complex and difficult challenges than ever imagined
before: progress of the developing counties, alleviation
of poverty, conservation of the global environment,
nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
and the prevention and eradication of terrorism.
In order to contribute to world peace, Japan will
proactively fulfill its role as a responsible member
of the international community, upholding its pledge
not to engage in war and based on its experience
as the only nation to have suffered from the atomic
bombings and the path it has followed over the
60 years after war.
On
this occasion marking the 60th anniversary of the
war’s end, Japan , as a peace-loving nation,
expresses here again that it will work to achieve
peace and prosperity of all humankind with all
its resources, together with all the nations of
shared aspiration.
