Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Japanese Emperor Akihito and President Benigno Aquino III did not discuss issues hounding the World War II (WWII) during their meeting at the Palace, the emperor’s press secretary said.
In a press briefing Wednesday (January 27), Hatsuhisa Takashima, press secretary to the emperor, said there was no mention of the word “war” during their meeting.
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“The meeting between the president, the emperor and empress, there is no mention of the war,” he said.
But Takashima added that the emperor has already expressed before his “profound remorse” to the deaths of many Filipinos during the Second World War.
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He also reiterated the emperor’s pronouncements that the Japanese people must remember the agony experienced by Filipinos during the war.
Will there be an apology?
During the briefing, however, Takashima did not confirm if the emperor will make an apology during the banquet at Malacanañg on Wednesday evening.
Under the Japanese constitution, the emperor serves as “the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people.” However, the office has minimal involvement in daily government affairs and as a general rule his visits to other countries is expected to be free of political agenda.
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Takashima only entertained three questions from the Philippine press and immediately left for the emperor’s motorcade.
Aquino to emperor: Traffic biggest PH economic problem
The short press conference mainly focused on the economic relations of the Philippines and Japan.
Takashima narrated that Aquino told Emperor Akihito of the country’s traffic problem as the biggest issue hounding the economy.
Aquino said the Philippine government has been looking into ways on how to modernize the country’s infrastructure and decongest roads in urban areas.
Moreover, the emperor and Aquino also discussed the status of the country’s agriculture and automobile industry.
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Takashima said the emperor expressed his pleasure to know that more Japanese automotive makers are doing business in the Philippines.
In agriculture, meanwhile, Aquino told the emperor of the problems in the sector such as the lack of irrigation, among others. The president also outlined the ways on how his administration has been attempting to revive the sector.
The emperor advised Aquino to encourage young people to return to agriculture by giving more incentives.
