Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Law for Special Aid to the Wounded and Sick Retired Soldiers and the Ceremony to Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Japanese Disabled Veterans Association held in Tokyo, in the presence of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan.

The Prime Minister said in his congratulatory address,

"Sixty-eight years have now passed since the end of the last world war.
In that time, Japan has carried forward along a path that respects freedom and democracy and is most devoted to peace, and we have enjoyed prosperity. This has been built upon the priceless sacrifices of those who fell on the battlefields and those who suffered injury amidst the destruction of the war. We will never forget this, even for a moment.
The efforts of the wounded and sick retired soldiers and their families to overcome this extraordinary hardship and become active in numerous fields throughout society contributed to our peace and prosperity after the war. I express my heartfelt respect and gratitude for this.
In addition, I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone in the Japanese Disabled Veterans Association. Over the long sixty years since the establishment of the Association, you have all encouraged each other, helped each other as you overcame hardships, and worked hard to improve the welfare of wounded and sick retired soldiers.
It is the natural duty of the nation to provide needed aid measures to those who suffer disability because they participated in war and risked their lives fighting, while being full of concern for their home country and families.
Going forward, we will make every effort to enhance aid measures for wounded and sick retired soldiers."