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Japan PM Omits 'Reflection,' 'Pledge Not to Wage War' in War Dead Ceremony Speech

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi omitted references to 'reflection' and 'pledge not to wage war' in her speech at the National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead.
  • This follows the precedent set by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who also excluded these phrases starting in 2013.
  • Takaichi also sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in her capacity as LDP president, but did not visit in person, likely to avoid regional backlash.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi marked the 81st anniversary of Japan's defeat by omitting key phrases from her address at the National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead. Notably absent were references to 'reflection' and the 'pledge not to wage war,' a departure from the tradition of past prime ministers who acknowledged Japan's wartime actions and expressed remorse.

This omission aligns with the stance of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who ceased including these phrases in his speeches starting in 2013. Takaichi, who considers Abe her political mentor, appears to be following his lead. While she stated, "We will not repeat the horrors of war. We will build a Japan where hope can be found and a society where people can live safely and with peace of mind," and emphasized Japan's commitment to global peace, the absence of explicit reflection on past wartime suffering was noted.

We will not repeat the horrors of war. We will build a Japan where hope can be found and a society where people can live safely and with peace of mind.

— Sanae TakaichiDuring her speech at the National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead.

In contrast to Abe's approach, former Prime Ministers Fumio Kishida and Shigeru Ishiba, as well as former Democratic Party leader Naoto Kan, had referred to Japan as a 'peace-loving nation' or a 'peace state.' Last year, Shigeru Ishiba reintroduced the mention of reflection and the pledge not to wage war after a 13-year hiatus. Takaichi's decision to exclude them signals a continuation of Abe's more nationalistic tone.

Earlier on the same day, Takaichi, in her capacity as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals. However, she refrained from visiting the shrine in person as prime minister, a move likely intended to avoid provoking neighboring countries like South Korea and China, given the shrine's controversial status.

Japan has strived to contribute to world peace as a nation that values peace.

— Sanae TakaichiHighlighting Japan's role in global peace during the memorial ceremony.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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