As Emperor Naruhito travels across the country to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II this year, he is expected to explore how best to pass down memories of the conflict and work for peace in his role as a "symbol" of the country now most of its people belong to postwar generations. After some 3.1 million Japanese died in World War II, which they fought in the name of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, the country's postwar Constitution defined an emperor as "the symbol of the state and the unity of the people of Japan" in separating the emperor from the government. Deliberating on how to pass on memories as he searches for what role he must play as the symbol of modern Japan, the emperor is expected during his travels to not only focus on the survivors but also highlight the younger generation given the role young people have been playing as "storytellers" to recount the first-hand experiences of members of the World War II generation in their place.
Published at: 2025-04-12 21:00:15
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