Japan-United States of America Relations
Former U.S. POWs Visit with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoji Muto
On October 14th at 9:45am, 9 former U.S. prisoners of war (POWs), invited to Japan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoji Muto for approximately 45 minutes. The outline of the meeting is as follows:
1. State Minister Muto expressed his appreciation to the visitors for accepting the Government of Japan’s invitation and for traveling a long distance to Japan, and expressed his hope to continue “reconciliation of minds” through this program, which was the 6th iteration.
2. In response, Mr. Arthur Gruenberg, on behalf of the group, after sharing his personal experiences during the war, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to visit Japan with this program.
3. In addition, State Minister Muto expressed his heartfelt apology for the immeasurable damage and suffering Japan inflicted on many people including the former U.S. POWs and civilian internees during the war.
4. Following State Minister Muto’s comments, other former U.S. POWs shared their thoughts on their wartime experiences, and also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to visit Japan.