For the first time in my life, I was proud of my Prime Minister after hearing his speech at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Usually, I shy away from writing about politics, but today is an exception. I cannot help but express my gratitude to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, at least this once, amidst the storm of far-right, non-intellectual, empty-headed, ultra-biased, self-centred, attention-hungry, hyper-capitalist, intolerant, greedy, hate-oriented and narrow-minded politicians, parties, and their supporters rapidly emerging in Japan. I feel worried and miserable thinking about my country’s future. She is in grave danger.
Prime Minister Ishiba has long been known as a hawkish conservative, but also as a voracious reader who studies at every available moment. He understands politics and global affairs as his own. I listened to his speech in the original Japanese and in the English interpretation, and I was deeply moved by his powerful message.
Please watch here in the United Nations official YouTube video:
Script:
(English translation) Address by Prime Minister Ishiba at the Eightieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly _ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
(Original Japanese) 第80回国連総会における石破総理大臣一般討論演説｜外務省
Official page from the UNGA site:
Japan _ General Debate
I was emotional when he referred to the people of Palestine, the economic, industrial, and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries, and the way ahead that his government anticipates. I also noticed his voice tremble while reciting a tanka poem by Hiroshima poet Shinoe Shōda, quoted "These big bones/Must be the teacher's:/Around them,/Gathering in a circle,/Little skulls are found." (as translated by the office.) It was one of the breathtaking moments for me to discover that there are still politicians with a heart.
In conclusion, he referred to the Bandung Conference in 1955, when Japan was accepted as a member of the union of countries working for peace. Despite the indescribable destruction and atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII against our neighbouring nations, he deliberately chose the word “tolerance” to describe how those nations allowed Japan to participate.
It was precisely because of their forgiveness that Japan could turn its focus to peacebuilding and, in turn, achieve remarkable economic growth. I was profoundly impressed, and deeply grateful, for these remarks, because they gave voice to what has long been boiling inside my heart: a truth about history that many Japanese today seem to have conveniently forgotten.
Soon, he will leave his post, and far less competent presidential candidates from the Liberal Democratic Party are lined up to succeed him. I deeply regret this fact and can only pray that he will remain our Prime Minister for a little longer.
