Dream Time
後輩
- 20 Jul 2003
- 1,238
- 25
Old soldier does penance for past atrocities
日军91岁侵华老兵跪在卢沟桥上忏悔谢罪(组图)_新闻中心_新浪网
91-year-old Honda Tatsutaro kneels down on the Lugou
Bridge
"I must come to China to apologize before it is too late," said Tatsutaro. "I do not want to take my sins into the grave."
After dedicating some lines of poetry to the Chinese war dead on Friday afternoon, Tatsutaro knelt before a wall at the Memorial to the Battle of Songhu, and prayed.
He then stood up, and turned to face the audience before reading several articles in Japan's Constitution that uphold peace.
After that, the repentant Tatsutaro criticized the Japanese Government led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
"The Constitution forbids waging wars, and it's been so many years of peace," said Tatsutaro.
"It is unacceptable that Koizumi attempts to change the Constitution on the excuse of self defence," he said.
"I will defend the Constitution with my life.''
"He is 91, and nobody forced him to come," said Xu Qin, a staff member at the memorial who accompanied Tatsutaro during his visit.
"We would forgive him even if he did not kneel down, and his behaviour here is evidence of his apology,'' said Xu.
"I was supporting him by the hand all the way. His hand was warm and I think I can understand his heart," Xu added.
"We welcome Japanese friends like him. We forgive him sincerely," said one elderly Shanghainese walking in a park near the memorial.
日军91岁侵华老兵跪在卢沟桥上忏悔谢罪(组图)_新闻中心_新浪网
91-year-old Honda Tatsutaro kneels down on the Lugou
Bridge
"I must come to China to apologize before it is too late," said Tatsutaro. "I do not want to take my sins into the grave."
After dedicating some lines of poetry to the Chinese war dead on Friday afternoon, Tatsutaro knelt before a wall at the Memorial to the Battle of Songhu, and prayed.
He then stood up, and turned to face the audience before reading several articles in Japan's Constitution that uphold peace.
After that, the repentant Tatsutaro criticized the Japanese Government led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
"The Constitution forbids waging wars, and it's been so many years of peace," said Tatsutaro.
"It is unacceptable that Koizumi attempts to change the Constitution on the excuse of self defence," he said.
"I will defend the Constitution with my life.''
"He is 91, and nobody forced him to come," said Xu Qin, a staff member at the memorial who accompanied Tatsutaro during his visit.
"We would forgive him even if he did not kneel down, and his behaviour here is evidence of his apology,'' said Xu.
"I was supporting him by the hand all the way. His hand was warm and I think I can understand his heart," Xu added.
"We welcome Japanese friends like him. We forgive him sincerely," said one elderly Shanghainese walking in a park near the memorial.
