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2012/06/23
PM Noda speaks at the annual Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead in Okinawa, “We shall not forget the tragic history”
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On June 23, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda visited Okinawa Prefecture and attended the annual Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead at Peace Memorial Park in the city of Itoman, Okinawa, where he offered his deepest condolences to the souls of war dead and reiterated the pledge that Japan will not to fight a war again. The ceremony was also attended by: House of Representatives Speaker Takahiro Yokomichi, House of Councillors President Kenji Hirata, relevant ministers, Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, and people of Okinawa.
Participants offered a one-minute silent prayer at noon in the ceremony. This was successively followed by a condolence speech by the chair of the Okinawa Association of War Bereaved Families, a flower tribute by PM Noda, a peace declaration by Governor Nakaima, and a poetry reading.
PM Noda gave an address, saying “We shall not forget the tragic history carved into this beautiful land of Okinawa, and I admire the efforts of the people of Okinawa who have overcome various difficulties to realize dynamic development. It is very regrettable that we have imposed a massive burden on the people of Okinawa for such a long time". He expressed his determination to make every effort to ease the problem of hosting the U.S. bases in order to make visible and substantial progress.
Noda asked himself whether every Japanese citizen has taken extra care to sympathize with and share the feelings of the Okinawan people, citing a famous telegram, which was sent by Rear Admiral Minoru Ota before his death in Okinawa in World War II, “Okinawan people have fought the war (desperately as described earlier). I appeal to you to give the Okinawan people special consideration from this day forward”. Noda then stated that “Today’s prosperity in Japan is built on the sacrifices of the war dead. Our country will stick with the pledge to renounce war while continuing to grieve for the war dead. And we will continuously pursue the realization of international peace as a member of the international community.”
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