Prime Minister Takaichi emphasizes goal of becoming a "shining lighthouse of the Indo-Pacific" at the National Memorial Service for the War Dead
On August 15, the National Memorial Service for the War Dead was held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. This ceremony is held annually to mourn the many people who lost their lives in World War II and to pray for peace. This year, Prime Minister Takaichi attended and delivered an address.
In her address, Prime Minister Takaichi touched upon the role that Japan should play. The Prime Minister emphasized, "As a shining lighthouse of the Indo-Pacific, Japan can become a country that the world can rely on." This is being interpreted as a demonstration of her strong determination for Japan to exercise leadership in peace and stability within the international community.
On the other hand, the word "remorse" regarding the past war was not used in this address. Because the content differed from the expressions used by successive prime ministers in their addresses, the choice of words has attracted attention.
Bereaved families and representatives from various fields attended this year's memorial service to pray for the repose of the souls of the war dead. As Japan looks back on its past history, its stance on what role it will play in the future international community is once again being called into question.