At World War II Memorial, Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Expresses ‘Remorse'
'We must once again deeply inscribe the remorse and lessons from that war into our hearts,' Ishiba stated.
A source close to Ishiba emphasized that the prime minister had intended to include the word 'remorse' in his address. The source explained that Ishiba's decision was the 'culmination of his deep resolve to prevent the recurrence of war, as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of the war's end.'
It has been 13 years since a prime minister last used the word 'remorse' in their memorial address. It was used in 2012 by Yoshihiko Noda, who was the prime minister under the Democratic Party of Japan and now leads the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
The mention of remorse became a fixture after former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued a statement on the 50th anniversary of the war's end, in which he acknowledged past colonial rule and aggression.
In his 1994 address, Murayama expressed 'deep remorse' and stated that Japan had 'caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations.'
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also referred to 'remorse' in his 2007 address during his first term, but he stopped using the term in his second term and beyond. Instead, he stated, 'We have the great responsibility to take the lessons of history deeply into our hearts.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japanese Emperor's Speech at World War II Memorial Ceremony Recognizes Postwar Suffering
The Emperor reiterated his strong desire to pass down memories of World War II in his address at the annual memorial ceremony for the war dead held in Tokyo on Friday. 'It is my sincere hope that we shall continue to pass down the memories of the sufferings endured during and after the war, and in unity of spirit, to seek peace and the happiness of the people in the future,' the Emperor said in his 90-second address. Since his days as crown prince, the Emperor, who was born in the postwar era, has underscored the importance of conveying memories of the ravages of war to future generations. During a press conference in February, he stated, 'I have taken to heart the suffering of many people,' adding that 'it is important to pass on the tragic experiences and history to the generations who do not know war.' The Emperor and Empress have attended memorial services for the war dead in Japan and abroad this year. In April, they visited the island battlefield of Iwoto, also known as Iwojima, in Ogasawara, which is administratively part of Tokyo. In June, they visited Okinawa Prefecture with their daughter, Princess Aiko, and renewed their wishes for peace. They also visited Hiroshima, which was devastated by an atomic bomb. In July, during a goodwill visit to Mongolia, they offered flowers and a moment of silent prayer at a monument for Japanese who died in internment camps. During their visits, the Emperor particularly valued meeting with atomic bomb survivors and other people who had experienced the war, as well as young people who serve as 'storytellers' passing on war survivors' memories of the war. 'This year's address captured the feelings the Emperor had during his visits,' said a senior official from the Imperial Household Agency who accompanied the Imperial couple on the series of visits. The addresses at a memorial service have a history of being carefully crafted by Emperor Showa and the Emperor Emeritus after the war, each word imbued with their wishes for peace. 'The Emperor followed the framework of the addresses, inheriting the sentiments of Emperor Showa and the Emperor Emeritus to express sympathy for postwar hardships of the war-bereaved families and Japanese citizens by using the new expression, 'the sufferings endured during and after the war,'' said Hideya Kawanishi, an associate professor at Nagoya University and an expert on the symbolic emperor system. 'It shows the Emperor's thoughts on peace as an emperor born in the postwar era.' Prayers of Imperial family The Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita observed a moment of silence while watching the national memorial ceremony for the war dead on television at their residence in Moto-Akasaka, Tokyo, on Friday. Princess Aiko, the daughter of the Emperor and Empress, offered a silent prayer at the Imperial Palace, her residence.
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Japan Times
Trump releases message on WWII victory over Japan
U.S. President Donald Trump has released a message regarding the 80th anniversary of the country's victory over Japan in World War II, stating that "the Japanese Empire was defeated" and the world was "spared from the oppressive clutches of destruction and tyranny." In the message, released Thursday, Trump praised American troops' "sacrifice and bravery" in "the deadliest war in human history" and pledged to maintain his administration's foreign policy of "peace through strength" to ensure that the United States remains "the greatest country on earth." Japan "has become our strongest ally in the Pacific" and hosts more than 50,000 American troops who stand guard against "new totalitarian regimes and their expansive ambitions," he said, underscoring the importance of U.S.-Japan relations. The message also noted that "peace is never promised, but is earned through sacrifice, defended with strength." In February, Trump issued a statement marking 80 years since the Battle of Iwo Jima, a fierce battle between Japan and the United States on the Pacific island of Ioto in the late stage of WWII. In May, he issued a presidential proclamation to designate May 8 as the Victory Day for WWII. In the war, Nazi Germany surrendered to the U.S.-led Allied powers on May 8, 1945. In the proclamation, Trump did not touch on the United States' battles with Japan during the war.
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Anniversary of War's End / Continue 80-Year Era of Peace for Next Generations
It has been 80 years since the end of World War II. Efforts must be strengthened to prevent memories of the catastrophe from fading, and the pledges to reject war and embrace peace must be passed on to the next generation. On Friday, the anniversary of the end of World War II, the government-organized national memorial service for the war dead was held at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo. The Emperor stated in his speech, 'Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated.' The Emperor also touched on, for the first time, the importance of passing down memories of hardships during the war and in the postwar period. This year, the Emperor and Empress have visited sites of hard-fought battles and other places to continue commemorating those who lost their lives in the war. It is hoped that the people will share the Emperor's thoughts, as he faces history, for the 3.1 million Japanese who lost their lives in the war. In his address, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba referred to 'remorse' over the war for the first time in a prime minister's speech at the event since then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda did so in 2012. For the first time, more than half of the bereaved family members who attended the memorial service were from postwar generations. Meanwhile, the number of former soldiers receiving military pensions fell below 1,000 this year. The passage of 80 years is turning the war from a contemporary event into a historical one. The Balete association, which was established in 1968 by former soldiers from Tottori Prefecture, launched a website this year. They fought in the fierce Battle of Balete Pass on the island of Luzon in the Philippines during the closing days of the war. The purpose of the website is to preserve a record of its activities, as the association will disband next spring due to the aging of its members. The association said that the memorial monument at Balete Pass will be managed by a local administrative body. However, such a case is rare. In recent years, a problem is how to manage memorial monuments overseas that are no longer visited and are falling into disrepair. In some cases, memorials have been abandoned after the dissolution of the veteran groups that erected them, and there are calls for them to be removed. The government is conducting a survey on the management status of memorial monuments both in Japan and abroad. In cases where maintenance is difficult, removal may be necessary. On the other hand, efforts to convey the tragic history of the war will be increasingly important. Storyteller activities, in which members of postwar generations learn about life and hardships during and after the war and share that information at schools and other venues, are spreading throughout the country. It is hoped that these activities will be further promoted while those who experienced the war are still alive. It is also necessary to speed up activities to preserve the testimonies of those who experienced the war through video and other media. War-related historical sites at various locations should also be utilized as places to learn about regional history during the war. There is concern that war-related materials will become scattered for such reasons as the closure of private war museums with the aging of operators and financial difficulties. The Maebashi city government has accepted such materials and begun exhibiting them at municipal facilities this year. The central and local governments should also make efforts to preserve materials that should be retained. Creating a system that connects materials from various regions online to enable people to learn about different areas should also be discussed. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2025)
