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Japanese envoy apologizes for wartime atrocities in RP
The Japanese ambassador to the Philippines on Sunday apologized for the atrocities committed by Japanese troops during their occupation of the Philippines from 1942 to 1945. Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki expressed his “heartfelt apologies over the atrocities committed by the Japanese military in the Philippines during World War II, including the tragic Bataan Death March." Yamazaki made the statement during a ceremony marking the 64th anniversary of the “Death March" in Bataan. The ceremony was also attended by US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney. Yamazaki also expressed his gratitude to the Filipino people for their “noble spirit of reconciliation… in appreciating Japan…that we are now a nation that shares the value of democracy, freedom and respect for basic human rights." “In this regard, we have both declared a series of activities aimed at fostering the people a greater sense of friendship as well as the people's appreciation of each other’s culture, arts, tradition, history, nature and technology," Yamazaki said. Kenney, meanwhile, urged Filipinos to remember the great sacrifices of the people who fought against Japanese invasion. “Let us keep remembering the great sacrifice of the people who fought here. We must have the valor to work for a better future, and we must have the strength to ensure that the future of our children be more peaceful and more prosperous," Kenney said. It was Kenney’s first time to attend the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor). She said her cousin, Marine Captain Sonny Brownfield, was among the last to surrender in Bataan and survived the Death March to Capas, Tarlac. “We come here with pride for the valor of those who served here. Pride in the courage of those who defended their nations," Kenney said. “All of you had been called very rightly the greatest generation," Kenney told war veterans who attended the ceremony. “It is for me very emotional and very special to say ‘Mabuhay ang Pilipinas,’ long live the Philippines," she said. “I've never been here before, so to honor the memory of a family member is incredibly special. I've now been in the Philippines for two and half weeks, it has been a wonderful two-and-half weeks," Kenney said. The Japanese Imperial Army forced some 300,000 Filipino and American soldiers and guerrillas to walk to a concentration camp in Capas after Bataan and Corregidor fell to Japanese forces on April 9, 1942. The forced march took about a week. Some 10,000 died of hunger, wounds, disease or were bayoneted on the spot by Japanese guards during the long march.
