27th Summer Reunion for Peace and Friendship
2024/7/12
On 12 July, Ambassador and Madame Hayashi hosted the 27th Summer Reunion for Peace and Friendship at the Embassy of Japan in the UK.
The first Summer Reunion took place at the Embassy in 1997 as a forum for former prisoners of war and former civilian internees and their families who had been detained or imprisoned for various reasons during the war, as well as individuals who had supported reconciliation projects, to talk to each other, to understand each other and to promote reconciliation between Japan and the UK. This year's Summer Reunion was attended by approximately 170 people. The participants were delighted to see one another again and to continue enriching their friendship after a year's absence.
Ambassador Hayashi expressed his respect and gratitude to those who had contributed so much to reconciliation in both Japan and the UK, and extended his condolences to the families of those friends of the Reunion who had passed away.
The Ambassador referred to the State Visit of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III. He reiterated his appreciation for the contributions made by those present, quoting the words of His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Emperor that at the core of our partnership was a close friendship. He also mentioned the deep respect and gratitude expressed by His Majesty The Emperor to those people who had dedicated immeasurable efforts to the friendship between the two countries extending firmly into the future, while acknowledging there had previously been a sad period during which the friendly relationship had suffered.
Ambassador Hayashi also noted that the partnership between the two countries had become stronger and more dynamic, based on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and that the Hiroshima Accord announced last year by two Prime Ministers was progressing well and further strengthening the Japan-UK partnership. He underlined that interactions between the younger generations of Japan and the UK would facilitate deeper mutual understanding between the people from both countries.
The first Summer Reunion took place at the Embassy in 1997 as a forum for former prisoners of war and former civilian internees and their families who had been detained or imprisoned for various reasons during the war, as well as individuals who had supported reconciliation projects, to talk to each other, to understand each other and to promote reconciliation between Japan and the UK. This year's Summer Reunion was attended by approximately 170 people. The participants were delighted to see one another again and to continue enriching their friendship after a year's absence.
Ambassador Hayashi expressed his respect and gratitude to those who had contributed so much to reconciliation in both Japan and the UK, and extended his condolences to the families of those friends of the Reunion who had passed away.
The Ambassador referred to the State Visit of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III. He reiterated his appreciation for the contributions made by those present, quoting the words of His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Emperor that at the core of our partnership was a close friendship. He also mentioned the deep respect and gratitude expressed by His Majesty The Emperor to those people who had dedicated immeasurable efforts to the friendship between the two countries extending firmly into the future, while acknowledging there had previously been a sad period during which the friendly relationship had suffered.
Ambassador Hayashi also noted that the partnership between the two countries had become stronger and more dynamic, based on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and that the Hiroshima Accord announced last year by two Prime Ministers was progressing well and further strengthening the Japan-UK partnership. He underlined that interactions between the younger generations of Japan and the UK would facilitate deeper mutual understanding between the people from both countries.
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