Letter written in response to the article "Remember why Hiroshima happened" in The Edmonton Sun on 12 August 2000

By Mr. Ryuichiro Yamazaki
Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Sir,

　We regret that Paul Jackson's article on 12 August entitled "Remember why Hiroshima happened" contains some crucial errors.

　The article claims that Japan has never officially apologized for its actions during the Second World War. The fact is that Japan has repeatedly expressed its remorse and stated its apology for wartime actions with the utmost clarity. A notable example is then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's official statement in August 1995, based upon a Cabinet decision. In the statement, Mr. Murayama said that Japan "through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations," and he expressed his "feelings of deep remorse" and stated his "heartfelt apology."

　It should further be noted that in the statement on 15 August of this year at the ceremony to mark the 55th year since the end of the Second World War, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori referred once again to the fact that Japan caused tremendous sufferings and sadness to many countries during the War with his feelings of deep remorse.

　Mr. Jackson also claims that the war is "glossed over" in Japanese schools. In fact, all 33 middle and high schools history textbooks used in Japan's primary and secondary schools mention the damages and sufferings caused by Japan's wartime actions.

　As one of the pillars of its post-war diplomacy, Japan has consistently endeavored to build friendly and constructive relations with neighboring countries. This policy has been developed due to Japan's sincere reflection upon its wartime actions.

This article was written in response to "Opinion" by Mr. Paul Jackson