Emperor Akihito hopes to visit Korea
Tokyo (AsiaNews) - Emperor Akihito
of Japan (79 years), hopes
to pay a visit with Empress Michiko to South Korea soon. The news was
reported on September 19 by a women's magazine. The article quoted an interview
that the descendant of the Chrysanthemum throne had with Koji Tsuruoka, deputy
foreign minister, on September 4. Among other things, the emperor also added
that he hopes that "Japan
and Korea
maintain good relations in the future."
The words and hopes of Akihito fall at a time of great tension between Tokyo and Seoul, over sovereignty
debacle involving the Dokdo islands (Takeshima for Tokyo), claimed by both
governments, but does highlight the elderly Emperor's desire for peace.
Stark
political legacy
Back in 1986, when he was still crown prince, Akihito had planned this visit,
but was unable to follow it through due to the princess' ill health. The real reason for the delay - the visit has
still not taken place - was Seoul's request that
the emperor first made a public apology (to Korea)
for the colonial rule of Japan
from 1910 to 1945.
Despite the constitutional limits, in the 1990s Akihito made frequent declarations
of remorse to Asian countries for their suffering during the Japanese
occupation.
In 1993, the government officially apologized but this failed to convince Korea that Japan was truly repentant for human
rights violations, including that of sexual slavery, euphemistically termed
"comfort women".
Both governments believe good relations between the two nations are necessary,
both for mutual economic and political prosperity, as well as for peace in the
Pacific region. In this respect, the problems is not only historical but also
territorial.
A
visit to boost friendly relations
The instigator of the visit was the emperor, who, however, constitutionally cannot
go on a state visit without the approval of the government: it was not easy to
obtain, given the reports of still unresolved tension between the two nations.
Akihito has paved the way. In an interview to the magazine he said that he "would
not hesitate to apologize during his visit to Korea if it was necessary to
promote friendly relations between the two nations." The statement was a
public response to Korean President Lee Myung-bak, in fact, had required as a
condition for the visit.
The Emperor, whose role is strictly symbolic, has been preparing the ground for this visit for
the last ten years: in 2001 he said that he felt kinship with Korea, noting
that the grandmother of his ancestor Emperor Kammu (VIII) came from the Korean
kingdom. In June 2005, during a visit to the island of Saipan
(Pacific), site of a battle in the Pacific War (World War II) he offered
prayers and laid a wreath at the Korean peace memorial.
The
meeting in Vladivostok
Historical and territorial reasons hinder understanding between (South) Korea and Japan. Colonial rule imposed from Japan on Korea from 1910 to 1945 definitely
ruined the relationship between the two nations. The colonial rule ended more
than 60 years ago, but traces of its wounds remains. Moreover, the possession
(Japanese) of a group of islands is under dispute, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in Korea,
located in the Sea of Japan at the same
distance from the coasts of the two countries.
The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in an attempt to promote relations
between the two nations, key US
allies, is mediating for 'understanding. On 9 September in Vladivostok
(Russia), on the occasion of
the annual summit of APEC (Aisa Pacific Economic Cooperation) after separate
meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Korean President Lee
Myung-bak she expressed hope of better relations between Seoul
and Tokyo.
According to the spokesman of the "Blue House" (the official
residence of Lee in Seoul),
the two leaders talked for five minutes after Noda approached him when he was
leaving the conference hall. "The two leaders said the spokesman, are
committed to working together for a future-oriented relations with each other".
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12/02/2016 15:14
17/01/2005
21/02/2019 12:52
