Memorial for Victims in Southern Islands

As the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, with Empress Michiko, visited Philippines for the first time on Tuesday. In his speech in Haneda Airport before leaving Japan, he remembered a great number of victims in the battle of Philippines. Not asserting the status of Japan brightening in the center of the world, which was a routine description of the top political leader of his country, Akihito took another step in imperial diplomacy to enhance mutual credibility with Asian nations.

The Imperial couple arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila Tuesday afternoon. Philippine President, whom the airport was named after, welcomed the couple on the red carpet laid under the ramp of government aircraft of Japan. It was the second time for them to visit Philippines, following an opportunity in 1962 when they had been the Prince and Princess.

Their visit to Philippines had significance. In the battle between Japan and United States in Manila during World War II, over 100,000 of civilians died, while Japanese Imperial Force lost 12,000 and U.S. Force did 1,000. “In Philippines, many lives of Philippines, Americans and Japanese were lost in last war. Especially in the battle of Manila City, a great number of innocent Philippine people were sacrificed. We will make a visit this time with those facts in our hearts,” said Akihito.

This is the sixtieth anniversary from having official diplomatic relation between Japan and Philippine this year. After the end of war in 1945, there remained firm anti-Japan sentiment in Philippine, delaying rebuilding official relationship as late as 1956. Taking opportunity of state visit to Japan, Aquino invited Akihito to his country. Coming to understand that Imperial matters of state would be decided with approval of Cabinet, Aquino made up his mind to persuade Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to make it happen.

In his visit, Akihito is going to offer flowers to a monument for remembering Japanese war victims and the grave for anonymous Philippine soldiers. Japanese victims in Philippines amount to 518 thousands, while Philippine civilian victims exceed a million. It is necessary for Akihito to balance to whom he will make memorial services.

Japanese government assumes that exercise of imperial political power should be minimized. In that regard, it is unlikely for Akihito to express apology or regret to any specific objects. But, he has been making “memorial trips” to Iwojima in 1994, Okinawa, Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1995, Saipan in 2005 and Palau last year. The Japanese would hope the people in Philippines to understand how their state symbol takes reconciliation seriously.