Japan PM Shinzo Abe Makes Historic Visit To Pearl Harbor, Joins US President Obama

By Richard Chiu
Shinzo Abe
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes the historical visit to Pearl Harbor on Tuesday to pay respects to the victims of the attack on the naval base that sparked World War II.

Abe was accompanied by US president Barack Obama for this landmark visit for both countries, which ironically were in conflict 75 years ago when Japan launched a massive air strike on the Pearl Harbor that killed over 2000 US military personnel. But as expected, the prime minister did not issue an apology for the attack.

According to BBC, the visit was made to pay tribute to the lives lost in the attack and the prime minister offered "sincere and everlasting condolences" to all the victims. He also called the joint visit with Obama an "alliance of hope" between the two countries and shall mark a renewed alliance.

"To the souls of the US servicemen who lie aboard the USS Arizona, to the American people, and all people around the world, I pledge that unwavering vow," Prime Minister Abe said. He also commended the US government for its efforts to re-establish a relation with Japan after the atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945.

Prime Minister Abe also pledged during the tribute that Japan would not wage war again and would do its best to promote peace all over the world. "We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow we, the people of Japan, have taken," Abe said.

"It is my wish that our Japanese children, and President Obama, your American children, and indeed their children and grandchildren, and people all around the world, will continue to remember Pearl Harbor as the symbol of reconciliation. We will spare no efforts to continue our endeavors to make that wish a reality. Together with President Obama, I hereby make my steadfast pledge," Abe adds.

President Obama, on the other hand, said that the US welcomes Japan's efforts "in the spirit of friendship, in the manner Japan has always welcomed me." As he laid the wreath to pay tribute to the men lost during the attack, he acknowledged that the loss as on "waters that still weep."

"That morning the ranks on those men's shoulders reflected them less than the courage in their hearts," he said. Obama also became the first president to mark another symbolic event preceded by a visit to Hiroshima seven months ago to pay respects to those who died in the atomic bomb attack that led to the surrender of Japan and ended the war.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories