Remarks by Consul General Yoichiro Yamada at "Beyond Reconciliation: Celebrate Japan-US Alliance and Honor Nisei Veterans" event, Seattle (September 10, 2017)

It is an honor and a great pleasure for me to attend today’s event. As previously mentioned, this is the fifth year for members of the U.S. Army, and Japan Ground Self Defense Force to come together to honor Nisei Veterans. I would like to thank the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington and the Nisei Veterans Committee, who have all made today possible.

This year’s event is particularly meaningful as 2017 marks the 75^th anniversary of the forced incarceration of Japanese-Americans and Japanese living in the US in 1942. The 442^nd regiment of the U.S. Army was formed the year after the executive order, a segregated regiment that was predominantly made up of Japanese-Americans, including young men interned in those remote camps. The regiment fought bravely to defend their own county and prove their worth, and eventually garnered the trust and respect in the United States. In a similar way, after the war, the once-incarcerated Japanese-Americans worked hard to rebuild their lives and patiently struggled to abolish laws that discriminated against them. Their struggle is what has made it possible for Japanese-Americans to live and work the way they do today. The attitude the Japanese-Americans displayed throughout these years is the foundation of the firm alliance that developed between the US and a re-shaped, re-structured Japan after its defeat in WWII.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the US Army and Japan Ground Self Defense Force for protecting our lives and country. Apart from defense, the armed forces do invaluable work in providing relief in times of natural disaster. We were deeply touched by the selfless display of friendship in the “Tomodachi” operations during the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. I would also like to express our gratitude to the American servicemen and women, who are stationed in Japan for our defense, and who, together with their families, contribute tremendously to the friendship and understanding between our two countries.

The US-Japan alliance is not just protecting our lives, but also our common values, the principles and institutions that enhance our standard of living, and ensure fairness in our society and in the world. They are the rule of law, political and economic freedom, human rights and democratic accountability in governance. These principles have been won and realized throughout history, including in WWII. The Nisei Veterans displayed and brought home this point through their bravery and sacrifice.

An alliance maintains its sturdiness and credibility through exercises. The annual exercise “Rising Thunder” in the Yakima Training Center of Joint Base Lewis-McChord instills confidence in our alliance. To the uniformed men and women, thank you for being at the forefront to defend humanity. I wish you a fruitful exercise and an even stronger bond between our armed forces for the common mission that you embody.

To conclude, I would like to thank you again for allowing me the honor to join you today. It is truly a great opportunity to gather in thanks to those that served and do serve for the betterment of all.