The President of Japanese Defence University apoligized for aggresive war and suggested a constructive relationship for the future in Beijing

On June 1st, Makoto Iokibe, President of Japanese National Defence University, gave a speech in Beijing, China. He stated that we should build a new Japan-China-America triple-win relationship. He also apologized for the aggressive war of the imperial Japan. Here is the report from ChinaNews.Com and a full English translation of the report.

The original text of the ChinaNews.Com report:
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/news/2009/06-01/1714984.shtml

防卫大学校长在华演讲:侵略战争损害日本利益
The President of National Defence university gives an speech in China: the Aggressive War Damaged Japanese National Interests

“日本一方面跟美国关系很好，另一方面要和正在发展中的中国进行关系调整，我们不搞军事竞争，我们希望能够建造新型的亚太关系。”
On one hand, Japan maintains a good relation with the U.S.; on the other hand, Japan needs to adjust its relationship with the developing China. We shall not have military competition. We hope we can build a new relationship in the Asia-Pacific region.

　　6月1日，应中国科学与人文论坛理事长郑必坚邀请，日本著名政治外交和安全保障问题专家、日本防卫大学校长五百旗头真做客中国科学院研究生院，他在“中国科学与人文论坛”上发表演讲时作出上述表示。
On June 1st, invited by Mr. Zheng Bijian, the chairman of Chinese National Science and Humanities Forum, Mr. Iokibe Makoto, the president of Japanese National Defence University and a renowned expert in politics, diplomacy and security studies, gives this speech in the “Chinese National Science and Humanities Forum”.

　　五百旗头真认为，近代日本努力的学习西方文明，发现从中可以变为自己利用的部分。但是，日本进行了一些侵略活动，这深深伤害了亚洲各国人民的感情，也损害了日本国家的利益，遭到了失败。“作为日本人，日本发动侵略战争，我觉得对不起其他国家的人民。”
Mr. Iokibe says, after Meiji Restoration, Japan anxiously studied western civilization, and adopted some useful parts from them. However, Japan also committed some aggressive invasions, which deeply hurt the feeling of Asian countries. These aggressions ultimately damaged Japanese national interests and brought bitter defeats to Japan. “As a Japanese, I feel sorry for Asian people since Japan initiated the aggressive war.”

　　中国从19世纪中叶开始，超越了150年苦难的历程，现在是一个力量很大的国家。五百旗头真称，日本是一个岛国，日本不是像美国、中国这样的大国，但是可以建立日、中、美三国进行对话机制，共同构建全新的亚太关系，“这样大家都可以实现共赢”。
China suffered 150 years of hard time since the mid-19th century. Now it has become a powerful country, Mr. Iokibe says. Japan is an island country, not a super power-like China or the U.S.. However, it is possible and necessary to build a Japan-China-America conversation mechanism, and establish a new Asia-Pacific relationship. “Thus we can achieve a triple-win.”

　　构建新型亚太关系的过程中，人才是非常宝贵的财富。五百旗头真希望日中大学生跨越偏见、跨越历史，成为推动日中友好的新力量。“我希望学生能够向前看，进行更多的日中文化交流活动”。
In the process of establishing a new Asia-Pacific relation, brilliant youth are precious resources. Mr. Iokibe wishes Chinese and Japanese university students overcome cultural bias and history burden. Young students should become the new propelling force of a Japanese-Chinese friendship. “I hope students can look forward and have more cultural exchange activities.”

　　在题为《阪神-淡路大地震及其震后复兴的历史意义》的主题演讲中，五百旗头真还回顾了其14年前亲身经历的阪神大地震。他认为，地震是人生与历史被切断的瞬间，地震偶然间造成了生死被分开的现实。地震后的重建，不仅仅是复兴，而是进行对未来有意义的活动。他希望日中双方就地震预测、救援和灾后重建等问题展开全方位、深层次合作。
Mr. Iokibe’s speech is entitled “Hanshin-Awaji earthquake and the history meaning of the recovery efforts”. He first recalled his personal experience in the Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. He believes that the relationship between history and our life experience was cut at the time when earthquake happened. Earthquake accidentally created the reality of a separation of the living and the dead. The re-building after the earthquake does not just imply a physical re-construction. It is also a meaningful psychological recovery for the future. He wishes Japan and China establish a deep and comprehensive cooperation in fields such as earthquake prediction, rescue, and re-building.

　　据悉，日本防卫大学直属日本防卫省，是日本自卫队培养陆、海、空三军初级军官的学校，素有日军“军官的摇篮”之称。
The Japanese National Defence University is directly under the administration of the Ministry of Defence. It provides training and education to the SDF lieutenants and young officers. It is known as the cradle of Japanese military officers.

(The English translation by Arc Han)