[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[July 21, 2000]
[Pages 1441-1443]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at the National Peace Memorial Park in Okinawa, Japan
July 21, 2000

    First, let me thank the Governor and the 
other distinguished officials from Okinawa; the family members of those 
whose names are on this memorial; the distinguished veterans; ladies and 
gentlemen. I think I should begin by saying that in as much as we are 
here to talk about the future as well as the past, I think we should 
give another round of applause to Machika. 
[Applause] She did a fine job and was a great credit to the students of 
this island.
    I am very honored to be the first American President to visit 
Okinawa in 40 years. This week our partners from the G-8 will come here 
to speak many words about the future. I wanted to come first to this 
place that speaks so powerfully in silence about the past, to remember 
those who lost their lives here, to honor what must have been their last 
wish, that no future generation ever be forced to share their experience 
or repeat their sacrifice.

[[Page 1442]]

    The battle of Okinawa itself lasted more than 80 days. More than 
100,000 Japanese soldiers died--or almost 100,000. More than 10,000 
American soldiers. But the heaviest tragedy by far fell on the people of 
Okinawa themselves: One-third of the civilian population lost; 90 
percent of those who survived left homeless. Every life lost was a life 
like yours and mine, a life with family and friends, with love and hopes 
and dreams, a life that in a better world would have run its full 
course. I thank, especially, the family members of the Okinawans who 
died for meeting me here at the memorial today.
    The battle of Okinawa was warfare at its most tragic. But this 
monument built in its memory is humanity at its most inspired; for here, 
no grief goes unrecognized. And while most monuments remember only those 
who have fallen from one side, this memorial recognizes those from all 
sides and those who took no side. Therefore, it is more than a war 
memorial. It is a monument to the tragedy of all war, reminding us of 
our common responsibility to prevent such destruction from ever 
happening again.
    Over the past 50 years, our two nations have come together in this 
spirit to meet that responsibility. The strength of our alliance is one 
of the great stories of the 20th century. Asia is largely at peace today 
because our alliance has given people throughout the region confidence 
that peace will be defended and preserved. That is what alliances are 
for, and that is why ours must endure.
    Of course, Okinawa has played an especially vital role in the 
endurance of our alliance. I know the people of Okinawa did not ask to 
play this role, hosting more than 50 percent of America's forces in 
Japan on less than one percent of Japan's land mass. I heard what the 
Governor said, and we had the opportunity to discuss this as we walked 
through the memorial. I have tried hard to understand the concerns of 
the people here. Five years ago we began a process of consolidating our 
bases here. Together, we agreed on 27 specific steps, over half of which 
are already completed.
    Today, Governor, I want to reaffirm to 
you and the people of Okinawa, we will keep all our commitments, and we 
will continue to do what we can to reduce our footprint on this island. 
We take seriously our responsibility to be good neighbors, and it is 
unacceptable to the United States when we do not meet that 
responsibility.
    In the meantime, there is more that we can do together to bring the 
benefits of peace and prosperity to this part of Japan. I want the world 
to see Okinawa not just as a battle in the past but as bankoku shinryo, 
a bridge between nations; appropriately, the very name of the conference 
center in which we are meeting this week.
    Five centuries ago, during the golden age of the Sho dynasty, this 
land served as a crossroads for all trade that flowed through Asia. In 
the information age of the 21st century, Okinawa again can be a 
crossroads and a gateway between Japan and the rest of the world. In the 
past year, three American Fortune 500 companies have followed more than 
20 Japanese information technology companies in opening operations here.
    So here I say, because we have our friends from the media here, to 
people in the United States, in Europe, and all over the world, who will 
see this magnificent place on television tonight: Okinawa is a good 
place; come here and help the people build the future.
    I am especially pleased to be here in the same year that Ryukyu 
University celebrates its 50th anniversary, proud that the United States 
played a leading role in its creation, equally proud that so many young 
Okinawans studied in the United States through the Garioa and Fulbright 
programs. In that great tradition, it is my honor to announce today that 
the United States and Japan will create a new scholarship program to 
send young Okinawan graduate students to the prestigious East-West 
Center in Hawaii. And we dedicate this program to the memory of my good 
friend, your late Prime Minister, Keizo Obuchi. May it add to the 
friendship and understanding between our nations that he worked so hard 
to advance.
    This week Prime Minister Mori is bringing 
the partners of the G-8 to Okinawa to find ways to close the gap between 
the wealthiest and poorest nations of the world and, within nations, 
between the wealthiest and poorest areas. The message of hope and 
reconciliation embodied in this beautiful memorial and the remarkable 
friendship forged by the United States and Japan give us hope that we 
can build bridges over all the troubled waters of the new century that 
still keep too many people from the joys and possibilities that should 
be everyone's birthright.

[[Page 1443]]

    In 1879 Sho Tai, the last King of the Ryukyus, left Shuri Castle for 
the last time. One of his final acts as king was to read a poem that 
summed up his hope for the future. Today, his words speak to us across 
the generations: Ikusa-yun sumachi. Miruku-un yagate. ``The time for 
wars is ending. The time for peace is not far away. Do not despair. Life 
itself is a treasure.'' May Sho Tai's words guide our friendship and our 
work in the months and years to come.
    Governor, I thank you for your remarks 
and your leadership here. In the end, the words of Sho Tai, if we can 
make them real in our time, is the very highest tribute we can pay to 
all those people whose names are on this magnificent memorial.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 10:45 a.m. at the Cornerstone of Peace in 
the park. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Keiichi Inamine of 
Okinawa; Machika Kawamitsu, student, who introduced the President; and 
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori of Japan.