戦没者追悼式 「深い反省」を世界の平和に

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Emperor’s ‘feelings of deep remorse’ must be taken to heart for world peace
戦没者追悼式　「深い反省」を世界の平和に

We must not forget that Japan’s peace and prosperity after World War II have been built on the enormous sacrifices of the people who lost their lives in the war.
　戦後日本の平和と繁栄が、第２次大戦で亡くなった人々の犠牲の上に築かれていることを忘れてはなるまい。

Events were held throughout the country on Aug. 15, the 70th anniversary of the war’s end, to honor the souls of the war dead, who number an estimated 3.1 million. In the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward, the National Memorial Service for the War Dead was held that day under the sponsorship of the government and in the presence of the Emperor and the Empress.
　７０回目の終戦の日だった１５日、３１０万人の戦没者を哀悼する催しが各地で開かれた。東京・日本武道館では、天皇、皇后両陛下をお迎えし、政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式が行われた。

In his address at the commemorative ceremony, the Emperor said, “Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse over the last war, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated.”
“[I] pray for world peace and for the continuing development of our country,” he said.
　天皇陛下は、追悼式のお言葉で、「さきの大戦に対する深い反省と共に、今後、戦争の惨禍が再び繰り返されぬことを切に願い、世界の平和と我が国の一層の発展を祈ります」と述べられた。

The words “deep remorse” were newly incorporated into the Emperor’s address for this year’s national commemoration ceremony. This can be said to reflect the Emperor’s feelings toward the last war.
　「深い反省」という言葉が、新たに盛り込まれた。先の戦争に対する陛下のお気持ちが反映されたものと言えよう。

In his New Year’s address this January, the Emperor emphasized, “It is most important for us to take this opportunity to study and learn from the history of this war, starting with the Manchurian Incident of 1931, as we consider the future direction of our country.”
　陛下は、今年の年頭にあたってのご感想でも、「満州事変に始まるこの戦争の歴史を十分に学び、今後の日本のあり方を考えていくことが、今、極めて大切なこと」と強調されている。

This can be taken as an expression of his Imperial Majesty’s desire to link the lessons of the war to Japan’s peace by reflecting upon the past.
　過去を顧みて、その教訓を日本の平和につなげたいという陛下のご心情の表れではないか。

The Emperor saw the war’s end at the age of 11 in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, where he was evacuated. He has been quoted as saying that when he returned to Tokyo, the capital had been reduced to “completely burnt-out ruins, which stand out especially clearly in my memory.”
　陛下は１１歳の時、疎開先の日光で終戦を迎えられた。東京に戻り、「本当に焼け野原だった。それが非常に印象に残っている」と述懐されている。

As a member of the generation that experienced the war first-hand, the Emperor likely has special feelings for the bereaved families of the war dead.
　あの戦争を知る世代として、陛下の遺族に対する思いには、特別なものがおありだろう。

Preserve historic shelter

In April this year, the Emperor and the Empress made an official visit to the island of Peleliu in the Republic of Palau, which was one of the fiercest battlefields in the war. The Imperial couple laid flowers at both the Japanese and U.S. memorials.
　天皇、皇后両陛下は４月、第２次大戦で激戦地となったパラオ共和国のペリリュー島を訪問し、日米の慰霊碑に献花された。

The way the Imperial couple are squarely and sincerely facing the scars left by the war this year, the 70th anniversary of the war’s end, has made strong impressions both at home and abroad.
　戦後７０年の今年、戦争の傷痕と向き合うお二人の真摯しんしなお姿は、内外に強い印象を与えた。

The Imperial Household Agency recently made public the master record and audio of the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War that then Emperor Hirohito, posthumously called Emperor Showa, announced via radio broadcast to the public. They were made public at the Emperor and Empress’ suggestion that the advisability of replaying the recording of the rescript be considered, according to the agency.
　宮内庁は先日、昭和天皇が国民に終戦を伝えた「玉音放送」の録音原盤と音声を公開した。両陛下から「録音盤の再生を検討してみては」と示唆されたためだ。

Also made public were photos and video footage of an underground air-raid shelter in the Imperial Palace, which was referred to as “Obunko fuzoku shitsu” (Room attached to the Imperial shelter), where Emperor Showa made a “sacred” Imperial decision to bring the war to an end. Its current state, with crumbled floors and fallen wall coverings, conveys the passage of a great deal of time.
　昭和天皇が終戦の「聖断」を下した皇居内の御文庫付属室（地下防空壕ごう）の写真と映像も公開された。床や壁が朽ち果てた現状が、歳月の流れを感じさせる。

In accordance with Emperor Showa’s personal desire that the shelter be not maintained, the room has reportedly never been repaired. But considering that the shelter was an important historical setting, the government may be better advised to study the wisdom of preserving it.
　「維持は無用」という昭和天皇の意向で、修繕がなされないまま、今に至っているという。
　歴史の重要な舞台だ。政府は保存を検討すべきではないか。

Of the about 5,000 bereaved relatives who attended the national memorial ceremony this year, about 60 percent were children of the war dead. Many children of the war dead are now older than 80.
　戦没者追悼式に参列した約５０００人の遺族のうち、６割は戦没者の子たちだ。８０歳を超えた子の世代も多い。

Spouses of the war dead accounted for no more than 15 of the attendees.
戦没者の配偶者は１５人にとどまった。

The generation that personally experienced the war is aging rapidly. Steps must be taken to ensure that the memories of the miseries of the war are handed down to the next generation.
　戦争を直接体験した世代の高齢化が進む。悲惨な記憶を次代に語り継いでいかねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2015)