- Title: Japan's new emperor echoes father, expresses deep remorse over war
- Date: 15th August 2019
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 15, 2019) (REUTERS) WORLD WAR TWO MEMORIAL CEREMONY IN PROGRESS JAPANESE EMPEROR NARUHITO AND EMPRESS MASAKO AND OFFICIALS ARRIVING FLOWER DONATIONS FROM NARUHITO AND MASAKO SIGN READING "THEIR MAJESTIES, THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS"
- Embargoed: 29th August 2019 09:54
- Keywords: World war 2 memorial ceremony Emperor Naruhito Empress Masako Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Tokyo Japan anniversary
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001ASBUC7B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japan's new emperor, Naruhito, expressed deep remorse over the country's wartime past and prayed for global peace on Thursday (August 15), echoing his father's words in remarks at an annual ceremony marking Tokyo's surrender in World War Two.
Naruhito, 59, became Japan's first monarch born after the war when he inherited the throne in May. His father, Akihito, stepped down in the first abdication by a Japanese emperor in two centuries.
"Together with all of our people, I pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war ... and pray for world peace and the further development of our country," Naruhito said, echoing his father's message a year ago.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also spoke at the same ceremony, vowing that Japan will "never repeat the battle of war".
Abe has long sought to revise the constitution's pacifist Article 9 to further legitimise the military, but public opinion is divided.
(Production: Masashi Kato, Akiko Okamoto) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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