Japan’s Emperor Naruhito marked his 65th birthday by emphasizing the importance of passing on the tragic experiences of World War II to younger generations, pledging to promote understanding of history and peace as the world commemorates the war’s 80th anniversary. He and Empress Masako, born after the war, have learned from their parents’ wartime stories and are committed to following his father Akihito’s example of making amends for the war. Naruhito’s concern for nuclear disarmament, especially in relation to the survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings, will lead him and Masako to visit Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa this year.
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