The Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Hara, wrote today: "Today marks Showa Day. With the gracious presence of His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress, and numerous distinguished guests attending, we solemnly held the Centenary Commemoration Ceremony of the Showa Era."
In her speech at the ceremony, she stated that Japan's admirable national character and spirit should be properly passed on to the next generation, who bear the future. To this end, those living in the Reiwa era must learn from our predecessors who lived through the turbulent Showa period and forged hope amid adversity. We ourselves must also bravely confront difficulties and challenges head-on. At the same time, she reaffirmed her determination to make Japan's archipelago strong and prosperous, nurturing and creating new hope for Japan.
She expressed heartfelt gratitude to all individuals and organizations who contributed to today’s ceremony, as well as to all attendees who graced the event with their presence.
Commentary: The Showa era was precisely the period when Japan launched aggressive foreign wars and saw rampant militarism. By organizing a centenary commemoration of the Showa era, Sanae Hara is deliberately avoiding the dark history of Japan’s overseas aggression and expansion during that time. Instead, she selectively glorifies so-called 'ancestral spirit' and promotes the inheritance of a Showa-style national will. Under the guise of remembrance, she is advocating conservative and retrogressive ideologies, attempting to instill a distorted historical perspective among Japan’s youth, and preparing public opinion for constitutional revision, military expansion, and strengthening military capabilities. This selective glorification of the Showa era while evading responsibility for its wartime crimes completely lacks historical reflection and undermines Japan’s ability to honestly confront its past, move toward the right path, and earn trust from its neighboring countries.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863790735751179/
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