天皇陛下比訪問 友好親善深めた「慰霊の旅」

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Imperial trip to console war dead in R.P. deepens friendship, goodwill
天皇陛下比訪問　友好親善深めた「慰霊の旅」

The visit has embodied the strong feelings of the Emperor, who has repeatedly traveled to console the spirits of the war dead, keeping the memories of World War II deep in his heart.
　先の大戦の記憶を深く胸に刻み、戦没者の慰霊を続ける天皇陛下の強い思いを体現したご訪問だったと言えるだろう。

The Emperor and Empress have returned home from a five-day official visit to the Philippines, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between that country and Japan.
　国交正常化６０周年を記念してフィリピンを公式訪問した天皇、皇后両陛下は５日間の日程を終え、帰国された。

It was the Imperial couple’s third trip abroad to console the spirits of the war dead, following their visit to Saipan in 2005 and to Palau last year.
　両陛下の海外での戦没者慰霊は２００５年のサイパン、昨年のパラオに続いて３度目だった。

About 520,000 Japanese died in the Philippines, where fierce battles between Japan and the United States took place during the war. Many Filipinos were also entangled in the fighting, with about 1.11 million people killed.
　日米の激戦地となったフィリピンでの日本人犠牲者は、約５２万人に上る。多数のフィリピン人も戦闘に巻き込まれ、約１１１万人が死亡した。

What made a deep impression during their latest trip was the Imperial couple’s first visit to the monument in Caliraya, near Manila, built by the Japanese government to mourn the Japanese war dead in the Philippines. The couple laid white chrysanthemums brought from Japan.
　今回、印象深かったのは、マニラに近いカリラヤにある日本政府建立の「比島戦没者の碑」を初めて訪問されたことだ。日本から持参した白い菊を供花された。

The Emperor and Empress later spoke to former Japanese soldiers and bereaved relatives one by one who were present, saying such words as “Please take care of yourself.” The people concerned must have been filled with deep emotion.
　両陛下は、元日本兵や遺族ら一人ひとりに「体に気をつけて下さいね」などと、言葉をかけられた。関係者の感慨は、ひとしおだったのではないか。

The Imperial couple last visited the Philippines in 1962, when the Emperor was crown prince. Anti-Japanese sentiments remained strong back then, but the couple met bereaved relatives of Filipino war dead and visited a facility for war orphans. These appearances were said to have eased somewhat Filipinos’ critical attitude toward Japan.
　両陛下は、皇太子時代の１９６２年にもフィリピンを訪問されている。強い反日感情が残る中、ご夫妻はフィリピン人犠牲者の遺族と対面し、戦争孤児の施設を訪ねられた。その姿に、日本への厳しい視線も和らいだとされる。

Squarely facing the past

The monument for the Japanese war dead was built in Caliraya in 1973. It must have been the Imperial couple’s dearest wish to visit the monument to console the souls of the Japanese war dead.
　７３年、カリラヤに日本人戦没者の碑が建てられた。そこでの慰霊は、両陛下の念願だったろう。

The couple also visited the national Heroes Cemetery in Manila and offered a silent prayer in front of the memorial monument. At a banquet hosted by Philippine President Benigno Aquino, the Emperor said in his speech that many Filipinos lost their lives in the war and “this is something we Japanese must never forget.”
　両陛下は国立英雄墓地も訪ね、慰霊碑の前で黙とうされた。アキノ大統領主催の晩餐ばんさん会のスピーチで、天皇陛下は、多くのフィリピン人が犠牲になったことに触れ、「日本人が決して忘れてはならないこと」と述べられた。

The image of the Emperor, who faces the past sincerely, must have been imprinted onto the hearts of Filipinos.
　過去と真摯しんしに向き合う陛下の姿は、フィリピンの人々の心に、強く焼き付けられたに違いない。

Aquino expressed gratitude, saying that Japan as a “consistent, able, and trustworthy partner, has helped advance our people’s progress.”
　アキノ大統領は、「貴国は堅実で有能かつ信頼できるパートナーとして、今日まで、わが国の発展を後押しして下さった」と感謝の意を表した。

The Imperial couple’s latest visit to the Philippines came at the invitation of Aquino, who visited Japan in June last year as a state guest. Aquino has known the couple since he visited Japan in 1986 with his mother, then Philippine President Corazon Aquino.
　今回のフィリピンご訪問は、昨年６月に国賓として来日したアキノ大統領が招請したものだ。大統領は、８６年に母親のコラソン・アキノ大統領に同行して来日して以来、両陛下と交流がある。

In June this year, Aquino will end his term and step down. His final year in the presidency coincides with the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
　今年６月、アキノ大統領は任期を終えて退任する。最後の年が国交正常化６０周年と重なった。

The Philippines is considered to be one of the most pro-Japan countries to Japan. It is also an important partner for Japan in Asia in the economic and other fields.
　フィリピンは、最も親日的な国の一つとされる。経済分野などで、アジアにおける日本の重要なパートナーでもある。

We hope the latest visit by the Imperial couple to the country will further solidify the friendship and goodwill between our two countries.
　今回の両陛下のご訪問を、両国の友好親善をより確かなものにしていく契機としたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31, 2016)