Japan’s emperor said on Tuesday that his nation must remember the tremendous loss of life in the Philippines during second world war, as he and his wife began their first visit to the Southeast Asian country.
“Many Filipinos, Americans and Japanese lost their lives in the Philippines during the war,” Emperor Akihito said in a statement he read before departing from Tokyo. “Especially in the battle in Manila, a tremendously large number of innocent Filipino civilians were victims. Upon making this visit, we need to bear this in mind at all times.”
Japan occupied the Philippines during the second world war. The 1945 battle for Manila between Japan and allied US and Philippine forces levelled the capital city and left more than 100,000 dead, according to Philippine historians.
Relations between the Asian nations have improved dramatically in the seven decades since the war. Japan has become a major trading partner and aid donor to the Philippines, and the countries are bolstering defence ties in the face of China’s military rise.
Akihito and Empress Michiko were met at Manila’s airport by President Benigno Aquino III and his top Cabinet members.
Aquino will formally welcome Akihito at the presidential palace on Wednesday for talks. The president will hold a state banquet for Akihito and Michiko later on Wednesday.