- Title: Japan pledges not to wage war again as ministers visit controversial shrine
- Date: 15th August 2021
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 15, 2021) (REUTERS) PARTICIPANTS OBSERVING MOMENT OF SILENCE JAPANESE EMPEROR NARUHITO( RIGHT) AND EMPRESS MASAKO (LEFT) OBSERVING MOMENT OF SILENCE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIDE SUGA (CENTRE) AND LAWMAKERS OBSERVING MOMENT OF SILENCE PARTICIPANTS STANDING DURING MOMENT OF SILENCE CEREMONY IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE EMPEROR, NARUHITO, SAYING (BACK FACING, STANDING NEXT TO EMPRESS MASAKO): "Looking back on the long period of post-war peace, reflecting on our past, and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated. Together with all our people, I now pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war, both on the battlefields and elsewhere, and pray for the peace around the world and the further development of our country." ALTAR NARUHITO AND MASAKO SEATED SUGA WALKING TO THE PODIUM PARTICIPANTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, YOSHIHIDE SUGA, SAYING: "We must never again repeat the devastation of war. We will continue to remain committed to this conviction. Under the banner of pacifism, by working together with the international community, Japan will actively do its utmost to solve various issues that the world is facing." CEREMONY IN PROGRESS FLOWERS
- Embargoed: 29th August 2021 08:35
- Keywords: Emperor Naruhito Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tokyo WW2 ceremony
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001EQE2DS7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged on Sunday (August 15) that the country would not wage war again, making the vow on the anniversary of the end of World War Two as members of his cabinet visited a controversial shrine.
Nearly eight decades since the end of the war, the conflict remains a source of tension between Japan and its neighbours, particularly China and North and South Korea.
"We must never again repeat the devastation of war. We will continue to remain committed to this conviction," Suga said in a speech at a memorial ceremony in Tokyo.
His comments were little changed from those of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, at last year's ceremony, and were echoed by Emperor Naruhito who expressed "deep remorse" for Japan's wartime past, as he has previously done. Yet visits to the controversial Yasukuni shrine by members of Suga's cabinet as well as Abe on Sunday were likely to anger China and both Koreas. The shrine saw a constant stream of visitors from early morning, including families with children and people in military uniform, despite persistent rain and the recent spike in coronavirus cases.
Yasukuni honours the war dead, including 14 World War Two leaders convicted as "Class A" war criminals, making it a flashpoint for tension.
(Production: Akira Tomoshige, Irene Wang) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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