Consulate Activities
2023/12/15
Japan-U.S. Joint Memorial Ceremony “Lives Remembered: A Tribute to the Fallen of Pearl Harbor”
Wreath Offering
Speech by Consul General Kodama
On December 8, 2023, the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu and the U.S. Navy Region Hawaii co-hosted the Annual Joint Memorial Ceremony on Ford Island at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, to remember all the lives lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The ceremony has been held every December since 2016 in remembrance of the approximately 2,400 U.S. servicemen and civilians, and 65 Japanese servicemen, who died in the attack. This year’s ceremony, marking the 82nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, was attended by state and city government officials, including Hawaii State Governor Green and Honolulu City Mayor Blangiardi; U.S. military personnel, including RADM Ruttenberg, the Reserve director for Maritime Operations, U.S. Pacific Fleet; veterans groups; Japanese-American organizations; religious groups; museum officials; and Japanese participants, including Nagaoka City Mayor Isoda of Niigata Prefecture. In all, approximately 120 people attended the event.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the participants paid tribute to souls of those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor and offered a silent prayer. This was followed by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band playing the Japanese and U.S. national anthems.
This was followed by speeches from Consul General Kodama; Rear Admiral Barnett, Commander, U.S. Navy Region Hawaii; Deputy Secretary General Tanimoto of the Japanese Parliamentary Group for World Federation, who read a message from Mr. ETO Seishiro, a member of the House of Representatives and President of the Group; and the keynote speech by Mr. Carr, President of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
Consul General Kodama began his speech by referring to the November 29th crash of a U.S. Osprey CV-22 off Yakushima Island, expressing his condolences to the eight crew members who lost their lives and his gratitude for their service. He articulated his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and stated that through the power of reconciliation and respect, today, Japan and the U.S., as allies who share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, are contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Through the continuation of this ceremony, he conveyed his hope that Pearl Harbor will be remembered by future generations as a symbol of reconciliation and friendship.
The ceremony concluded with a floral tribute by Governor Green, Rear Admiral Barnett, and Consul General Kodama.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the participants paid tribute to souls of those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor and offered a silent prayer. This was followed by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band playing the Japanese and U.S. national anthems.
This was followed by speeches from Consul General Kodama; Rear Admiral Barnett, Commander, U.S. Navy Region Hawaii; Deputy Secretary General Tanimoto of the Japanese Parliamentary Group for World Federation, who read a message from Mr. ETO Seishiro, a member of the House of Representatives and President of the Group; and the keynote speech by Mr. Carr, President of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
Consul General Kodama began his speech by referring to the November 29th crash of a U.S. Osprey CV-22 off Yakushima Island, expressing his condolences to the eight crew members who lost their lives and his gratitude for their service. He articulated his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and stated that through the power of reconciliation and respect, today, Japan and the U.S., as allies who share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, are contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Through the continuation of this ceremony, he conveyed his hope that Pearl Harbor will be remembered by future generations as a symbol of reconciliation and friendship.
The ceremony concluded with a floral tribute by Governor Green, Rear Admiral Barnett, and Consul General Kodama.
Speech by Rear Admiral Barnett
Keynote speech by Mr. Carr