Emperor Naruhito, on the occasion of his 65th birthday on Sunday, expressed his hope that the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II later this year would serve as an occasion to renew a pledge for peace.

Touching on the many lives lost, including those from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the fierce ground battle on Okinawa, the emperor also highlighted the importance of passing down stories and lessons of the past and that he felt hopeful that the younger generations were actively working to learn about the war.

“I believe it is important to strengthen our love for peace by deepening our understanding of the past and not forgetting those who lost their lives nor those who experienced hardship and sadness,”

As the world today faces war and other crises, he said “further cooperation and collaboration on the international stage is required to create a peaceful world, as well as a society that respects different values.”

“I wish for a sympathetic society in which we think about other people’s feelings, situations and positions and are considerate of those with different opinions,

At the press conference, the emperor said he was delighted to see his daughter, Princess Aiko, thrive and learn at her workplace at the Japanese Red Cross Society, as he had never been employed himself.

I hope she continues to grow and broadens her perspective through further experiences,