[Provisional Translation]

1. Distinguished members of the Advisory Panel, let me begin by expressing my gratitude to all of you for attending the first meeting today despite your very busy schedules.
Seventy years have passed since the end of World War II. The newborns afterthe war ended will this year turn 70. No less than 3.1 million of our compatriots lost their lives in World War II. In the devastation after the war, the Japanese who survived the war renewed their determination to foster peace and achieved post-war recovery by working tirelessly while supporting their families, cherishing lives from generation to generation. This founded today’s Japan, in which we enjoy peace and prosperity.

2. Japan, defeated in World War II, was accepted once again by the international community in the post-war era. Based on its remorse regarding World War II, Japan has built up a free and democratic nation that upholds human rights and respects the rule of law. Japan has also been contributing to the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region throughout these 70 years since the end of the war, as a peace-loving nation and as an ally of the United States. At the same time, as a member of the international community, Japan has upheld its major responsibilities through economic cooperation to developing countries, peacekeeping efforts, and assistance for democratization. The path Japan has taken as a peace-loving nation will remain unchanged. In the 21st century, we will make still greater contributions towards international peace and prosperity and safeguard people’s well-being, under the flag of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation.

3. I would like to ask you to take up discussions from now until the summer on the following points, which you will also find in the handouts. 
-  What are your perspectives on the path the world and Japan took during the 20th century?  What are the lessons that we should draw from our experiences in the 20th century?
-  Based on these lessons of the 20th century, what sort of path did Japan follow over the 70 years since the end of World War II? In particular, how do you evaluate Japan’s pacifism, economic development, and international contributions in the post-war era?
-  Over the 70 years since the end of World War II, what kind of path has Japan followed with regard to reconciliation with the United States, Australia, and the countries of Europe, with the countries of Asia, particularly China and the Republic of Korea, and with others?
-  Based on the lessons of the 20th century, what sort of vision do you envisage for Asia and the world in the 21st century? What kinds of contributions should Japan make towards that?
-  What kinds of concrete policies and measures should Japan take as we mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war?

4. Foundations for the future cannot possibly be disconnected from the past. The 80th, 90th, and 100th anniversaries in future years will come to pass on the basis of our remorse regarding World War II as well as the path we have taken as a peace-loving nation over the 70 years since the end of the war, as I mentioned just now. Upon listening to your views, I intend to think over such points as what kinds of further contributions Japan should make to the Asia-Pacific region and to the world in the years to come, and what kind of country Japan should seek to become in the future.
I have great expectations towards your discussions that concentrate your wisdom as the distinguished members of the Advisory Panel.
I thank you.