The Emperor’s Words of Peace and “Four Days We Must Not Forget”

I hope that mutual understanding will advance beyond national and regional boundaries, connecting societies and leading to a peaceful world in which people recognize each other.

His Majesty the Emperor sent a video message at the opening of the World Water Forum, which began in Senegal on March 21. The message, delivered in English to the world, was a strong message of hope for world peace from the perspective of water, the subject of his own research.

The message was delivered in English to the world, and was based on his own research on the issue of water, and his strong wish for world peace. His Highness the Emperor, and then Michiko, told Naru, then Crown Prince, about the ‘Four Days We Mustn’t Forget. It is said that they spoke about these days in Karuizawa, where they were staying during their summer vacation.

There are four days in Japan that must never be forgotten. They are Okinawa Memorial Day, the day the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the day the war ended.

The desire for world peace is firmly inherited by His Majesty the Emperor,” said Midori Watanabe, a journalist on the Imperial Household.

Now, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia is perplexing the world. Especially, Europe is a land-locked region and is facing a “battlefield” by accepting people evacuated from Ukraine.

The water that circulates in the oceans, the atmosphere, and the land equally nurtures all living things in the process. I strongly hope that all people on earth will share this blessing with consideration for each other and walk together on the path of prosperity and happiness” (Message from His Majesty the Emperor).

The water that travels around the earth becomes a river and straddles and crosses national borders. In his message, His Majesty the Emperor points out the importance of sharing this blessing. He continued

We are still halfway on the long road to solving water problems, but if each of us learns from the history and experience of people’s relationship with water, shares the insights we gain from this experience, including good practices in various regions, and nurtures our own water culture, we will unravel the water problems in our region and lead to peace and development. We believe that this will be the beginning of a new era for the company.

Although there is no direct reference to the war in Europe, this message conveys a deep concern for peace and what must be done to achieve it.

Okinawa Memorial Day, one of the “Four Days We Mustn’t Forget,” falls on June 23. It was on March 26 that the U.S. military first landed on Okinawa. The bombing and indiscriminate attacks, known as the “Iron Storm,” took many lives, including those of civilians.

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the fighting in Okinawa continued even after the war ended on August 15. The tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa 77 years ago is now being repeated in Ukraine. The Cenotaph in Hiroshima is inscribed with the words, “We will not repeat our mistakes. We must learn from the past.