Emperor Naruhito of Japan, on the day of his 65th birthday, which is celebrated on Sunday, said it was important to pass on the memory of the Second World War, the 80th anniversary of the end of which is celebrated this year.
⠀
“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the war. I would like this (the 80th anniversary) to become a new occasion to reflect deeply on the hardships of the people who laid the cornerstone of Japan’s development, so that respect for peace would be imprinted on the heart and to think about peace,” the emperor said in an address recorded during a press conference. in the Imperial palace.
⠀
The monarch noted the importance of preserving the memory of the war.
⠀
“Today, the memory of the war is being erased. It is important that the terrible experience and history be passed down from the generation that survived the war to the generations that did not experience the war,” the emperor said.
⠀
He said that he himself was born after the war, but he was told a lot about his experiences during the war by his parents, the honorary Emperor and Empress of Japan.
⠀
“As a symbol of Japan and its people, I have accepted these sentiments of the honorable Emperor and Empress. I will try to fulfill my mission as a symbol (of the people) with thoughts about the people and next to the people”, he added.
⠀
In honor of the emperor’s birthday, Japan will have a day off tomorrow, and today those who wish will be able to visit the square in front of the imperial palace, where they will be able to contemplate the monarch on the glazed veranda. In the evening, for the first time in 5 years, the palace will host a birthday reception with the participation of representatives of the political, cultural, scientific and business communities. Previously, due to coronavirus restrictions, such receptions were not held.
⠀
Emperor Naruhito of Japan ascended to the throne in 2019 after his father Emperor Akihito abdicated. Emperor Naruhito’s grandfather is Emperor Hirohito (Showa), who played an ambiguous role during World War II.
