World War II Descendant Advocates for Peace Nation: Son of Former Soldier Adventures for War-Free State
Japanese War Victim's Son Delivers Heartfelt Speech on Peace
Hajime Eda, a 80-year-old Japanese man, delivered a poignant speech at this year's war-end anniversary ceremony, emphasising the importance of remembering the horrors of war and preventing their repetition. Eda, born in 1943, is the son of Tomiji Eda, a Japanese soldier who died as a World War II victim.
Tomiji was mobilized in April 1945 to build an airfield on the Korean Peninsula during the war's final months. Six days after Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, a repatriation ship carrying Tomiji hit a sea mine and sank. His remains were never returned to his family, and he died at the age of 30 without ever meeting Hajime, who was born the same month he died.
After the war, Hajime grew up in the home where his father was born, raised by his mother alongside his grandparents who farmed rice and raised silkworms. Eda's mother, who provided care for Eda in the absence of Tomiji, was instrumental in Eda's upbringing. Eda thanks his mother for raising him without Tomiji.
Eda's family was a farming family, and he lived in the same farming community. His upbringing without his father deeply affected him, and he has expressed sorrow for the lost future of his father with his family. As a representative of bereaved relatives of World War II victims in Japan, Eda has become a vocal advocate for peace. He has publicly called for Japan to remain a peaceful, warless country.
In his speech, Eda expressed his hope to keep Japan out of war. He delivered a eulogy on behalf of families of war dead during the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender. The ceremony was held on August 15, marking the day Japan surrendered and the end of World War II in the Pacific. Eda's personal experience as a war victim’s son, combined with the broader context of Japan's postwar commitment to peace, has shaped his advocacy and public speeches.
- During his heartfelt speech at the war-end anniversary ceremony, Hajime Eda, the son of a World War II victim, shared about his personal experience, encouraging Japan to remain a peaceful nation, emphasizing his hope that photos of war-and-conflicts would never be associated with politics and general-news again.
- Besides advocating for peace due to his role as a representative of bereaved relatives of World War II victims, Hajime Eda, in his public speeches, often mourns the lost future of his father with his family, adding that his upbringing in the farming community was deeply affected by his father's absence during the war-and-conflicts, highlighting the significance of peace amidst the backdrop of politics.
