Japan pledges never go to war again

Yesterday the Japanese government vowed not to go to war ever again and expressed condolences to the families of all those who suffered during World War II. “During the last war, Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. I hereby express my feelings of profound remorse and sincere mourning for the victims of the war and their bereaved family members. Here today, Japan renews its pledge not to engage in war and vows once again to spare no effort in order to establish the eternal world peace,” Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on August 15 at a Tokyo ceremony dedicated to the 66th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The ceremony gathered about 6,000 people, including parliament chambers speakers, MPs, and relatives of the dead. Also present was Emperor Akihito with his wife (pictured), who prayed for the dead Japanese. The memory of World War II victims has also been honored in other parts of the country. It will be recalled that the war took a toll of about 3.1 million Japanese, including almost 800,000 civilians, who fell victim to US bombings and Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear strikes.