The seeds of war lie within each and every one of us.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Reflecting on what people at the time might have been thinking amidst the hopeless circumstances before the war's conclusion, and how they faced the looming terror of death, fills me with deep sorrow.
Today, at this very moment, the people of Ukraine and Gaza are suffering the devastating consequences of war in much the same way. This realization overwhelms me with a profound sense of despair.
The origins of war lie within each of us—in our distrust, suspicion, fear, prejudice, and sense of superiority. War is a tragedy that unfolds when these negative emotions swell to their extremes, sweeping the majority into a frenzy. In such times, leaders exploit people’s fears, advocate the necessity of military force, and rally the populace under the banner of national defense by any means necessary.
Claiming to counter threats from other nations, these leaders invoke plausible theories—geopolitics, military balance, and nuclear deterrence—while amplifying the sense of crisis. Consequently, the justification for deterrence escalates arms races, which eventually lead to nuclear armament. Once set on this path, turning back becomes extraordinarily difficult. Are we, perhaps, repeating the same mistakes as 80 years ago?
We, who were meant to learn from the lessons of the past and uphold the principles of renouncing war and maintaining no military forces enshrined in our peace constitution, must ask ourselves: where did we go wrong? At this moment, we need the courage to pause, reflect, and critically reevaluate our course of action.
Expanding military forces might provide temporary security, but it will inevitably provoke greater vigilance from others and fuel an endless cycle of arms buildup. To me, the inevitable consequence of this trajectory is the extinction of humanity.
From ancient times, humanity has survived through collaboration, not isolation. In today's interconnected world, no nation, no matter how dominant, can sustain itself alone.
We must reacknowledge this fundamental truth. No matter how difficult, we must seek compromise, mutual understanding, and the pursuit of coexistence and shared prosperity. I firmly believe this is the only way humanity can endure.
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We must not allow the seeds of conflict within us to grow any further.
Here is the Japanese version.