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Emperor’s
Birthday Reception Remarks
The Honorable Senate
President Hanabusa,
Former
Governor Ariyoshi,
Distinguished
guests,
Ladies
and gentlemen:
Konban-wa.
Good Evening. Aloha!
We
have just heard the beautiful rendition of the Japanese national anthem,
“Kimigayo” which literally means “the Reign of the Emperor”, by
Cathy Foy-Mahi with music accompaniment by the Royal Hawaiian Band. This is
my first “Kimigayo” experience in
Hawaii
and I was elated. About 130 years ago, the then government of
Japan
commissioned a group of musicians to write their national anthem. The verse
of “Kimigayo” was taken from an old Japanese poem written in the 10th
century that was to glorify the reign of the Emperor. The poet wishes for
the long and successful reign of the Emperor that lasts for a period in
which pebbles to grow into a great rock and become covered with moss. The
music of “Kimigayo” was inspired by the ancient Japanese court music. In
1880, they finished their work and “Kimigayo” became
Japan
’s national anthem. The “Kimigayo” song won the first place in the
international contest for national anthems held in
Germany
in 1903. “Kimigayo”, while lauding the oldest family lineage in the
world, claims to be the shortest national anthem with the oldest verse in
the world.
Three
months have passed since I came to
Hawaii
, most privileged islands in the center of the Pacific.
Hawaii
is blessed with great nature, great people and great opportunities. No
single day passes that I don’t discover something new and exciting. Today
I am hosting the reception in commemorating the 76th birthday of His Majesty
the Emperor of Japan. My wife and I have the pleasure of having such a large
crowd of well-wishers. This year‘s reception also celebrates the 20th
anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the throne and the success of
Their Majesties visit to Hawaii in July 2009. In my remarks, I would like to
focus on topics related to His Majesty and
Japan
’s Imperial Family. As our guest speakers today will certainly touch on
the subject of Their Majesties visit to
Hawaii
in a short while, I will try my best to avoid duplication.
This
year marks the 50th anniversary of the marriage of Their
Majesties. Their Majesties honeymooned
Hawaii
. Since then,
Hawaii
became one of their favorite destinations. To know how much they care for
Hawaii
, you need look no farther from this Consulate compound. Here we have seven
commemorative trees that were planted by His Majesty and other members of
the Imperial Family. No other consulates can match for this.
In
the old Hawaiian Monarchy era, there was a bond of affinity between the
Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Hawaii. They even gave
serious thought to an arranged marriage between the two Families, which
never happened though. The first Japanese immigrants sailed to
Hawaii
in 1868. It was this very year that
Japan
accomplished the Meiji Restoration, which transformed
Japan
from a feudal society into a modern nation state. Meiji was an era of great
change and dynamism. By abolishing the 700 year samurai rule, it empowered
the Emperor to rule the country. Emperor Meiji was the stark pioneer.
Exercising his new-found executing power, he led a new born
Japan
in the rough seas of international power game.
Japanese
immigrants to
Hawaii
brought to their new islands the spirit of the era that Emperor Meiji
invoked. They endured hardship and cut opened the Hawaiian wilderness. They
were the true embodiment of the pioneer spirit of Meiji.
The
blood line of
Japan
’s Imperial Family can go back to the 4th century, even if we
strictly confine our counting to the Emperors corroborated in historical
documents. In the past 1600 years, the Emperor has been in existence as the
chief or figurehead of
Japan
. Originally he administered religious rites and rituals for good harvest.
As such he gained power and influence in the ancient agrarian
Japan
. During the samurai period, the Emperor was cut off from political power
and thus lost his stature considerably. But his authority remained intact.
Even the Shoguns sought his approval to legitimize their rule over the
country. The Meiji restoration bestowed upon the Emperor a new role of
constitutional monarch with executing power. World War II once again
deprived him of power, while assigned to him a symbolic role.
The
constitution of
Japan
adopted after the war stipulates that sovereign power resides with the
people. It also says that the Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and
of the unity of the people. How does it expect the Emperor to behave?
Democracy dictates a plain logic. The Emperor should work for the people.
The symbolic Emperor is supposed to accord himself with what people aspire
for. For instance, like many others, Japanese people aspire for world peace
and a safe and happy life. So does the Emperor. The institution of the
symbolic Emperor works very well in
Japan
and has been firmly established as essential part of our democratic
tradition.
President
Obama often appeals to his audience that the
United States
is determined to uphold the values and ideals upon which she is founded by
all means. His words sound most reassuring to American people, I imagine.
The
United
State
, an immigrants’ nation, since its foundation 230 years ago, draws its
strength and cohesiveness by constantly reaffirming the founding values and
ideals. We Japanese do not have the founding values and principles in the
same sense. We do not need them. Yes, we value freedom, democracy, human
rights and all the lofty ideals, but they alone never make us genuinely
Japanese.
What
makes
Japan
genuinely Japanese? What is the attribute of
Japan
? Rice farming, weaving, Shintoism, Buddhism, Japanese language,
kana-alphabet, traditional Japanese poems, Mt. Fuji, Tale of Genji,
Confucianism, Bushido, Noh, Tea ceremony, loyalty, prudence, rationality,
sincerity, tolerance and many more. I may go on endlessly, but if I have to
make one pick, I will definitely go for “Emperor”. The overwhelming and
non-contriving authority that the Emperor carries is just second to none. We
are not by any means acquiesced in the Emperor’s authority. We have no
laws to that effect. We just let go our natural expression of respect and
adoration for him taking form. This is what the Emperor means to Japanese.
The
Emperor and
Japan
have come this far since ancient times. The test of the past 1600 years has
proved that a
Japan
under the reign of the Emperor has been a successful enterprise in providing
Japanese with a rich history and proud traditions. She has been a consistent
rice farmer and a craftsman. She has been on love and hate relationship with
China
. She witnessed the rise and fall of aristocrats and samurais. She went to
wars, won and lost. She now commits herself to world peace and democracy. We
have gone through all this vicissitude and we are still going strong. A
sense of confidence or optimism we tend to entertain about our future comes
from this. The Emperor has been at the core of
Japan
all the time. Come what may, as long as the Emperor reigns, we feel
Japan
is secure.
So
you want to become Japanese. Or perhaps, you want to hear “Kimigayo”
once again. I like “Kimigayo” for its solemn dignity. I like “The
Star-Spangled Banner” for its patriotic drama. I like “Hawaii Pono’i”
for its graceful serenity. Every time I hear these great songs I feel good
and moved. Here’s a question. Which do you think people like best? The
three masterpieces you heard this evening cannot be compared easily. In my
view, however, the honor may go to
“Hawaii Pono’i”, for its second verse or refrain part would
always be sung. Although “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Kimigayo”
have the second verse of their own, nobody would dare to sing.
Mahalo
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