Japan’s PM Demands Defining Nation’s Role in Preventing World War

(MENAFN) On Monday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the urgent need for Japan to demonstrate its role in preventing another global conflict as the nation approaches the 80th anniversary of its World War II defeat.

Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, marked the official conclusion of World War II, with the formal signing of the surrender documents occurring on September 2, 1945, following the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

“I believe it is important to release something so as to avoid the fading (of World War II memories) and to never go to war again," Ishiba told legislators, responding to reports that he might refrain from commenting publicly on the war anniversary on August 15. He may, however, choose to speak later, according to media.

In the past, former Japanese prime ministers have issued formal statements on the 50th, 60th, and 70th milestones of World War II’s end. These declarations have been closely examined by countries like China and South Korea, which endured harsh treatment during Japan’s wartime actions, the report added.

Although Ishiba’s influence within his Liberal Democratic Party and the broader parliament has waned following recent electoral setbacks, he has opted not to release a new Cabinet-approved statement on the war anniversary.

Instead, he stressed that Japan must focus on demonstrating "what we can do" to avoid future conflicts, rather than merely "simply expressing thoughts." He also indicated plans to review previous statements before considering any new message.

In 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of World War II, then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who led a significant left-wing party, conveyed "deep remorse" and issued a "heartfelt apology" for the suffering and damage inflicted on numerous nations by Japan.

This Wednesday, Ishiba is scheduled to attend a ceremony commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in western Japan. Following that, he will travel to Nagasaki in the country’s southwest for another remembrance event on Saturday, honoring the devastation caused by the atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. on August 9, 1945.

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, claimed approximately 140,000 lives, while the Nagasaki bombing three days later resulted in around 70,000 additional deaths.

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