EMPEROR EXPRESSES ‘REMORSE’
I earnestly hope ravages of war will never be repeated, says Akihito
EMPEROR Akihito, in his last appearance as reigning monarch at an annual ceremony marking Japan’s World War 2 surrender, expressed “deep remorse” over the conflict, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed never to repeat the horrors of war.
Earlier yesterday, Abe sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine here for war dead, but did not visit out of apparent consideration for ties with Seoul and Beijing.
Visits there by Japanese leaders had outraged China and South Korea because the shrine honours 14 Japanese wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal, along with war dead.
China’s ties with Japan have long been haunted by what Beijing sees as Tokyo’s failure to atone for its occupation of parts of China before and during World War 2. Japan occupied Korea from 1910-1945.
“Thinking of the peaceful times that have extended for many years after the war, reflecting on our past and with a feeling of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated,” Akihito, wearing morning dress and accompanied by a kimono-clad Empress Michiko, said at the ceremony.
Akihito, 84, who will abdicate next year, has carved out a role as a symbol of peace, democracy and reconciliation during his three decades on the throne, visiting wartime battlefields to pray for war dead of all nationalities.
His remarks echoed those he first spoke on the 70th anniversary of the war’s end, in a subtle departure from past comments seen by many liberals and moderate conservatives as a subtle rebuke to Abe. The prime minister had said future generations of Japanese should not have to keep apologising for the conflict.
Yesterday, Abe vowed never to repeat the horrors of war.
“I will humbly face the past and resolutely uphold this promise.”
Abe has only visited Yasukuni shrine once since taking office in 2012. His December 2013 visit angered China and South Korea and prompted an expression of disappointment from ally the United States.