British and Japanese Government Reactions

Extracts from a letter to Ms. Tara Lysanne Duignan from the Prime Minister Tony Blair's Private Secretary Mr. Michael Tatham - 22 July 1999

Dear Tara,

The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for your letter of 8 June about your visit to Japan.

The Government fully supports the efforts of Pacific Venture to encourage friendship and understanding between British and Japanese people. It attaches great importance to the development of people-to-people links between the UK and Japn and believes that such ties are a crucial element in the development of the special partnership that exists between our two countries.

The Prime Minister would like to wish you and all the other members of Pacific Venture 1999 a productive and enjoyable visit to Japan

Message to a Reunion of the Pacific Venture Trips from Ambassador Hayashi - 26th May 1998

This time tonight, the State Banquet hosted by Her Majesty The Queen is taking place at Buckingham Palace for Their Majesties The Emperor and The Empress of Japan. My heart is with you as I attend this remarkable event. This is the first State Visit since 1971, there were only about 3,000 Japanese living in the U.K. compared to 55,000 today. It was 25 years after the end of the war, but no one could think then that some 25 years later the desire to seek reconciliation and build bridges for the future would find its expression in a project like the Pacific Venture

Within your families, you may have heard about the terrible sufferings that your grandfathers and grandmothers had to undergo during the war. We Japanese, as a nation, feel deeply remorseful about it and sincerely apologise for it. We also recognise that we should never again repeat such a serious mistake. Hearing lessons from the past, we would like the young people of our two countries to know each other and become friends for the future. The friendship that the participants of the Pacific Venture build with their new Japanese friends will produce a solid assurance that the tragedy of the past will never be repeated.

My purpose this evening is not to try to tell you what a marvellous country Japn is. I am sure that the '96 & '97 Venturers can tell the '98 Venturers vivid impressions of today's Japan. To those who are going to Japan for the first time, may I say that you only have to keep your eyes and ears open and see and hear for yourself, to try to absorb as much as you can and make your own judgement.

Finally, I would like to pay my sincere tribute to all those who are devoting themselves so tirelessly to this venture.

Trippers' Reactions
P.O.W. and Parents Reactions
British and Japanese Government Reactions

A Formal dinner