“There was no discussion on the war reparation issue but the consul general spoke to each survivor and apologized to them for his country’s actions during the war,” said Sen. Frank Blas, who is spearheading the “Real People, Real Stories” exhibit project.
The project, a collection of war stories, seeks to memorialize the sufferings of people during the Japanese occupation. At least 27 survivors attended the exhibit at the Friary.
“For the rest of the night that the consul general was there, he met with each of the survivors and asked for forgiveness,” Blas said.
Kimura spoke to Chris Reyes, of the war survivors, and told him that “what his country had done to the people of Guam during World War II was atrocious” and that he was sorry for the pain that his country had caused on him.
Another survivor, Pilar Laguana, told Kimura him that she holds no grudge against Japan only “I only wish that it never happens again,” Laguan told the consul general.
Guam did not get an official apology from Japan until Aug. 15, 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, when then-Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama expressed remorse for what the island had gone through during the Japanese occupation.
Guam and the Philippines were the only American possessions occupied by Japan during the war.
Kimura, who has been on consular duty on Guam for three months, attended pre-Liberation Day commemoration ceremonies in Manneggon and Chagui’an.
