JAPAN’s Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Yasushi Yamamoto virtually attended on October 20 the commemorative ceremony for the 76th anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landing, which was livestreamed from the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park in Palo, Leyte.
Officials of the Philippine government, dignitaries of the Japanese, American and Australian Embassies, as well as World War II veterans, graced the affair. It was hosted by the province of Leyte and the municipality of Palo.
In his solidarity message, Yamamoto expressed profound condolences for the victims of war, and said that Japan “has consistently taken the path of a country that values peace, human rights, and the rule of law under its free and democratic administrative system.”
The Japanese minister added that his country, under the banner of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” and a free and open Indo-Pacific, has been “dedicated to promoting peace and prosperity, as well as strengthening cooperation with the Philippines and the United States.”
Further, he expressed hopes “that the souls of the fallen heroes will find peace in the fact that our three nations are now cooperating not only economically, but also cultivating mutual friendship and robust relations with each other, including our defense forces.”
Yamamoto’s speech is available on the Leyte Gulf Landing Official TV Channel on YouTube.