夫々の関係者の心の中を思うと感慨深い。
その中でも天皇陛下のお言葉は、ここに記録しておきたい。
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本年は戦後七十年に当たります。先の戦争では、太平洋の各地においても激しい戦闘が行われ、数知れぬ人命が失われました。祖国を守るべく戦地に赴き、帰らぬ身となった人々のことが深く偲（しの）ばれます。
私どもはこの節目の年に当たり、戦陣に倒れた幾多の人々の上を思いつつ、パラオ共和国を訪問いたします。
パラオ共和国は、ミクロネシア連邦、マーシャル諸島共和国と共に、第一次世界大戦まではドイツの植民地でしたが、戦後、ヴェルサイユ条約及び国際連盟の決定により、我が国の委任統治の下に置かれました。そしてパラオには南洋庁が置かれ、我が国から多くの人々が移住し、昭和十年頃には、島民の数より多い五万人を超える人々が、これらの島々に住むようになりました。
終戦の前年には、これらの地域で激しい戦闘が行われ、幾つもの島で日本軍が玉砕しました。この度訪れるペリリュー島もその一つで、この戦いにおいて日本軍は約一万人、米軍は約千七百人の戦死者を出しています。太平洋に浮かぶ美しい島々で、このような悲しい歴史があったことを、私どもは決して忘れてはならないと思います。
この度のパラオ共和国訪問が、両国間にこれまで築かれてきた友好協力関係の、更なる発展に寄与することを念願しています。私どもは、この機会に、この地域で亡くなった日米の死者を追悼するとともに、パラオの国の人々が、厳しい戦禍を体験したにもかかわらず、戦後に、慰霊碑や墓地の清掃、遺骨の収集などに尽力されてきたことに対し、大統領閣下始めパラオ国民に、心から謝意を表したいと思っております。
この訪問に際し、ミクロネシア連邦及びマーシャル諸島共和国の大統領御夫妻が私どものパラオ国訪問に合わせて御来島になり、パラオ国大統領御夫妻と共に、ペリリュー島にも同行してくださることを深く感謝しております。
終わりに、この訪問の実現に向け、関係者の尽力を得たことに対し、深く感謝の意を表します。
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Remarks by His Majesty the Emperor at the Time of Their Majesties’ Departure for the Republic of Palau
April 8, 2015
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, which brought fierce fighting to various parts of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the loss of countless lives. Our thought go out to all those who went to the battlefields to defend their countries, never to return home.
In this milestone year, reflecting upon those many people who fell in battle, we will visit the Republic of Palau.
The Republic of Palau, along with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, was a German colony up thought World War Ｉ. After that war, the Treaty of Versailles and the decision of the League of Nations placed those territories under the mandate of Japan. Palau became the site of Japan’s South Seas Agency, and many people emigrated there from Japan. By around 1935, more than 50,000 Japanese nationals－a number greater than the native population－had come to live on those islands.
In 1944, the year before the end of the war, fierce battles took place in the region, and Japanese forces fought to their deaths on many islands. The island of Peleliu, which we will visit on this trip, was one of those islands. Some 10,000 Japanese soldiers and 1,700 American soldiers lost their lives there. We believe that we must never forget that those beautiful islands in the Pacific Ocean have such a tragic history.
It is sincere hope that our visit to the Republic of Palau will contribute to the further development of the friendly cooperative relations that our nations have forged so far. While we are there, we will mourn and pay tribute to both the Japanese and Americans who perished in the region. At the same time, taking this opportunity, we wish to offer our heartfelt thanks to His Excellency the President and all the people of Palau, for, although they suffered the ravages of war themselves, the people of Palau worked hard after the war to care for the memorial cenotaphs and cemeteries and to collect the remains of the fallen.
We are deeply grateful that during our stay there, Their Excellencies the Presidents and First Ladies of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands will also visit the Republic of Palau, joining His Excellency the President and the First Lady of the Republic of Palau on our trip to Peleliu.
Finally, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all those who worked so hard to make this visit possible.
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天皇陛下の晩餐会でのご答辞・全文
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戦後七十年に当たる本年、皇后と共に、パラオ共和国を訪問できましたことは、誠に感慨深く、ここにレメンゲサウ大統領閣下のこの度の御招待に対し、深く感謝の意を表します。今夕は、私どものために晩餐会を催してくださり、大統領閣下から丁重な歓迎の言葉を頂き、ありがとうございました。また、この訪問に合わせ、モリ・ミクロネシア連邦大統領御夫妻、ロヤック・マーシャル諸島共和国大統領御夫妻がここパラオ国を御訪問になり、今日、明日と続き、私どもと行動を共にしてくださることも誠にうれしく、心より感謝いたします。
なお、この度の訪問を前にして、ミクロネシア連邦を襲った台風の被害を耳にいたしました。ここに犠牲になられた方々を悼み、御遺族へのお悔やみをお伝えするとともに、被害を受けた大勢の方々に心よりお見舞い申し上げます。地域の復興の一日も早いことを念願しております。
ミクロネシア地域は第一次世界大戦後、国際連盟の下で、日本の委任統治領になりました。パラオには、南洋庁が設置され、多くの日本人が移住してきました。移住した日本人はパラオの人々と交流を深め、協力して地域の発展に力を尽くしたと聞いております。クニオ・ナカムラ元大統領始め、今日貴国で活躍しておられる方々に日本語の名を持つ方が多いことも、長く深い交流の歴史を思い起こさせるものであり、私どもに親しみを感じさせます。
しかしながら、先の戦争においては、貴国を含むこの地域において日米の熾烈（しれつ）な戦闘が行われ、多くの人命が失われました。日本軍は貴国民に、安全な場所への疎開を勧める等、貴国民の安全に配慮したと言われておりますが、空襲や食糧難、疫病による犠牲者が生じたのは痛ましいことでした。ここパラオの地において、私どもは先の戦争で亡くなったすべての人々を追悼し、その遺族の歩んできた苦難の道をしのびたいと思います。
また、私どもは、この機会に、この地域の人々が、厳しい戦禍を体験したにもかかわらず、戦後に慰霊碑や墓地の管理、清掃、遺骨の収集などに尽力されたことに対して心から謝意を表します。
ミクロネシア三国と日本との外交関係が樹立されてから二十年以上がたちました。今日、日本とこの地域との間では漁業や観光の分野を中心として関係が深まってきていることは誠に喜ばしいことです。今後それぞれの国との間で一層交流が盛んになることを願ってやみません。
ここに杯を挙げて、パラオ共和国大統領閣下、令夫人、ミクロネシア連邦大統領閣下、令夫人、及び、マーシャル諸島共和国大統領閣下、令夫人の御健勝とそれぞれの国の国民の幸せを祈ります。
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Reply Address by His Majesty the Emperor at the Banquet hosted by the Leadership of the Republic of Palau
April 8, 2015
It is deeply moving for the Empress and myself to be visiting the Republic of Palau in this milestone year, the 70th anniversary of the end of World War ＩＩ, and I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Your Excellency President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. for the invitation. I would also like to thank Your Excellency for hosting this banquet for us this evening, and for your most gracious words of welcome. I also wish to take this opportunity to say how happy we are that His Excellency President Emanuel Mori and the First Lady of the Federated States of Micronesia and His Excellency President Christopher J. Loeak and the First Lady of the Republic of the Marshall Islands are also visiting the Republic of Palau at this time to spend today and tomorrow with su. We are truly grateful to them.
After World War Ｉ, the Micronesian region was placed under the mandate of Japan by the League of Nations. Palau became the site of Japan’s South Seas Agency, and many people emigrated here form Japan. I am told that those people got to know the people of Palau well and they worked together to contribute to the development of the region. There are many people with Japanese names playing active roles in your country, including former President Kunio Nakamura, which is a testimony to the long history of exchange between our two countries, making us feel a sense of closeness.
During World War ＩＩ, however, fierce battle between the United States and Japan took place in this region, including the present Republic of Palau, resulting in the loss of countless lives. It is said that the Japanese military were concerned for the safety of the people of Palau, trying to get them to evacuate to a safe place. But it is truly painful that there were islander casualties due to air raids, food shortages and plagues. We are here in Palau to mourn and pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in World War ＩＩ and reflect on the hardships suffered by the bereaved families.
We wish to talk this opportunity to offer our heartfelt thanks to the people of the region who, although they suffered the ravages of war themselves, worked hard after the war to care for the memorial cenotaphs and cemeteries and to collect the remains of the fallen.
More than 20 years have passed since Japan established diplomatic relations with the three countries of Micronesia. It gives me great pleasure to see that our relationship is deepening in the field of fisheries and tourism, in particular. It is my hope that Japan’s exchanges with each country will further flourish in the future.
I would now like to raise my glass in a toast to many years of good health for Your Excellency President Remengesau and the First Lady of the Republic of Palau, His Excellency President Mori and the First Lady of the Federated States of Micronesia, and His Excellency President Loeak and the First Lady of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and to the happiness of the people of the three countries.
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天皇皇后両陛下のパラオ共和国御訪問についての内閣官房長官談話
平成27年4月10日
戦後七十年に当たり，天皇皇后両陛下は，去る四月八日から九日にかけて，戦争により亡くなられた人々を慰霊し，平和を祈念されるため，パラオ共和国を御訪問になり，九日，つつがなく御帰国になりました。
パラオ共和国において，両陛下は先の大戦において亡くなられた人々をしのび，平和への思いを込めて，ペリリュー島にて，日本政府により建立された「西太平洋戦没者の碑」とともに「米陸軍第八十一歩兵師団慰霊碑」に御供花になりました。これらに先立ち，パラオ共和国大統領御夫妻，また，ミクロネシア連邦大統領御夫妻及びマーシャル諸島共和国大統領御夫妻ともお会いになり，一層の友好親善関係の増進を図られました。誠に有意義な御訪問であったと思います。
今次御訪問に際し，様々な協力を行っていただいたパラオ共和国政府及び温かく歓迎していただいたパラオ共和国国民に政府として感謝いたしますとともに，今回の御訪問を契機に，今後我が国とこれら三か国との友好親善関係が一層発展することを期待しております。
http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/danwa/page4_001116.html
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Statement By the Chief Cabinet Secretary on the Visit to the Republic of Palau by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan
April 10, 2015
Japanese
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan made an official visit to the Republic of Palau, from 8th to 9th April, to mourn and pay tribute to those who died in the war and pray for peace in this 70th year after the end of the war. Their Majesties have returned to Japan safe and sound.
During their stay in the Republic of Palau, Their Majesties, remembering the war dead and praying for peace, laid wreaths to the “Monument of the War Dead in the Western Pacific” erected by the Government of Japan and to the “U.S. Army 81st Infantry Division Memorial” in Peleliu Island. Prior to this, Their Majesties received welcome from the President of the Republic of Palau and his spouse, as well as the President of the Federated States of Micronesia and his spouse and the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and his spouse, in order to further promote the friendship with these countries. It proved to be a truly significant visit.
I would like to express sincere appreciation of the Government of Japan to the Government of the Republic of Palau which has extended cooperation in various ways for this visit as well as to the people of the Republic of Palau who warmly welcomed Their Majesties. I wish that this visit will strengthen even further the friendship with the above-mentioned three countries.
