Japan's experts form new group to uphold Murayama's speech

Japan's former politicians and honorary professors on Monday established here a new group aimed at upholding Murayama's speech and continuingly reflect on Japan' s wartime aggression and colonial behaviors during the World War II. The group said it is formed under the circumstances that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took an ambiguous attitude toward inheriting the Murayama's speech and attempted to revise the country's pacifist constitution, calling for the Japanese government and society upholding and following the speech. Tadatomo Yoshida, head of the Social Democratic Party, a small Japanese opposition party, said in a press conference of the group ' s establishment that the group's forming is significant and he hopes it could develop stronger so as to balance the country's nationalism. He also hopes the group that consists of 16 former officials and scholars could urge the government to formally state that it entirely inherits the Murayama's speech and create chances to mend ties with Japan's neighboring countries. Former diplomat Naoto Amaki, a co-representative of the group, said the speech is one of the most important speeches in the international security area, adding it should not only urge the government to inherit it, but should also help every Japanese citizens to understand and follow the speech. Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama stated on Aug. 15, 1995 that Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly those of Asia, hoping that no such mistake will be made in the future, and expressed his feelings of deep remorse and stated his heartfelt apology. As to the issue of following the Murayama's speech, Abe has changed his words on the issue many times since his second term as prime minister in December and his ambiguity triggered fierce criticism from countries that suffered from Japan's past aggression.