Emperor of Japan meets German president, discusses importance of facing history
TOKYO -- Emperor Naruhito met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Imperial Palace here on June 18, during the president's visit to Japan for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and President Steinmeier delivered a speech in parliament stating, "Those who face the past never give up on the future." According to the Imperial Household Agency, after hearing about the speech from the president, the Emperor expressed his agreement, saying, "I believe it is extremely important to face the past and pass it on to the next generation."
The president's speech emphasized the importance of actively defending freedom and democracy while acknowledging Germany's Nazi past. The Emperor was aware of this and shared with the president that he had visited Ioto Island (Iwo Jima) and Okinawa this year to honor the war dead, and also plans to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
When the president asked about young people's interest in the history of war, the Emperor, reflecting on his interactions with young storytellers where he had visited, reportedly said, "I think it is very important to pass on the memories of the past."
(Japanese original by Nao Yamada, Tokyo City News Department)
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