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Documents of Japanese Government and the AWF |
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Statement by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama On the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the End of the War
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15 August 1995 |
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| Fifty years have passed since the end of
the war. Today, when I recall the many people at home
and abroad who fell victim in that war, I am overwhelmed
by many emotions. |
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| After the war, Japan overcame many difficulties
and arose from devastation to enjoy peace and prosperity
today. This is something we can be proud of, and I would
like to pay tribute to the wisdom and untiring efforts
of all Japanese people who worked toward those aims. I
would also like to express once again our profound gratitude
to the United States and other countries of the world
for their support and cooperation in helping Japan reach
those aims. It gives me great pleasure to note that Japan
has developed friendly relations with neighboring countries
in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States, and the
countries of Europe. |
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| Now that Japan enjoys peace and affluence,
we tend to forget how precious and sacred peace is. We
must talk to younger generations about the tragedy of
war, so that we never repeat the mistakes of the past.
I am convinced that, in order to join hands with people
of neighboring countries to ensure true peace in the Asia
Pacific region, and ultimately in the entire world, we
must, more than anything else, foster relations with these
countries that are based on deep understanding and trust.
Guided by this conviction, the Government of Japan has
launched its Peace, Friendship and Exchange Initiative,
which promotes two major objectives: support for historical
research into relations between Japan and neighboring
Asian countries, especially during the modern era; and
rapid expansion of exchanges with those countries. And
in order to further strengthen the relations of trust
between Japan and those countries, I will continue to
work in all sincerity for solutions to post-war issues
that are currently being addressed. |
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| As we now mark the 50th anniversary of
the end of the war, we must look into the past to learn
from the lessons of history, then look toward the future
and ensure that we make no mistake as we strive for peace
and prosperity for humankind. |
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| During a certain period in the not too
distant past, Japan followed mistaken national policies
and took the road to war, ensnaring the Japanese people
in a fateful crisis and inflicting, through colonial rule
and aggression, great damage and pains on people in many
countries, especially in Asia. Regarding in all humility
these irrefutable facts of history, and in the hope that
no such mistake will be made in the future, I express
once more my feeling of deep remorse and state my heartfelt
apology. I also offer my sincere condolences to all victims
of that history, both at home and abroad. |
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| Building on our deep remorse on the occasion
of today's 50th anniversary of the end of the war, Japan
must reject self-righteous nationalism and promote international
cooperation as a responsible member of the international
community, thereby advancing the ideals of peace and democracy.
It is also essential that Japan, as the only country to
have experienced atomic bombing, actively promote global
disarmament, especially through a stronger nuclear non-proliferation
regime, with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear
weapons. I firmly believe that this is the way for Japan
to atone for the past and console the souls of the victims. |
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| It is said that nothing is more reliable
than good faith. At this time of remembrance, I declare
to the people of Japan and abroad my intention to base
our Government policy on good faith, and this is my vow. |
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| 15 August 1995 |
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| Tomiichi Murayama, Prime Minister of Japan |
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