Cherishing the Memory of Honorary President of Japan-China Friendship Centre Mas

On September 19, 2005, our respected old Japanese friend and honorary president of the Japan-China Friendship Centre Mr. Masaharu Gotoda passed away. I was very sad when hearing the grievous news of his death. I remember that in the summer of 2002 when I was preparing to return home after finishing my work in the Japan-China Friendship Centre (JCFA) in Tokyo, I met him by chance, and said good-bye to him briefly. At that time he was already at the venerable age of 88, but his spirit was still hale and hearty and walked with firm steps. It had never occurred to me that this was my last meeting with him. His voice and smiling face always flash in my mind and his rhythmic and forceful words ring in my ears. I feel sorry and sad for losing such a good friend of the Chinese people.

Mr. Gotoda had been a government office worker for about 30 years and in politics for about 20 years, and had successively served as director general of the Autonomy Agency and the National Police Agency, and deputy chief of Cabinet Secretariat. In 1976 he left office and went into politics. He was elected member of the House of Representatives for 7 times successively and served at important posts including minister of home affairs, chief of Cabinet Secretariat, director general of the Cabinet, minister of justice and deputy prime minister.

Mr. Gotoda forged an indissoluble friendly bond with China since the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations in 1972. At that time he was deputy chief of Kakuei Tanaka Cabinet Secretariat and had done a great deal of work that few people knew for Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei’s visit to China and the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. In his memoirs he wrote, “To resume Japan-China diplomatic relations is a wise decision made by Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka. If asked what achievements that the Tanaka Cabinet has made, I would say it is the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations.” He also said, “I feel Japan has benefited a lot from the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations in the later changing international situation.”

In June 1999, I went to work for the JCFC. The third day after my registration at the JCFC happened to be the day that President Gotoda came to the office to perform his duties. He met with me cordially.He welcomed me to work in the JCFC and hoped that my stay in Japan would be happy, and briefly analyzed the Japanese economic situation. I consulted him on some questions about the Japanese political situation. He expressed his views in earnest. He had a clear mind and a good memory and his words were philosophical and persuasive. I had heard of legends about him long before. However, seeing for oneself is better than hearing from others. That day I really appreciated the elegant demeanour that he, a famous statesman, possessed, and carefully listened to his brilliant ideas. All this made me admire him greatly and aroused my interest in him.

During the three years when I worked in the JCFC, every Wednesday I saw Mr. Gotoda work in his office in the JCFC and listen to the reports given to him by both Chinese and Japanese leading officials of the Friendship Centre. He would give some instructions and expressed his views on some hot issues. Though I had never taken part in their meetings, yet from these cadres’ looks, I knew that they were a little nervous before him. All the Chinese comrades working at the JCFC had great respect for Mr. Gotoda. Whenever they met difficult problems, they would consult him and try to get his support. With his support, investigations and interviews for writing the book The Japanese Who Have Made Contributions to New China were smoothly carried out in Japan, and the book was published in China. In early 2005 the Society for the Studies of the History of China-Japan Relations invited him to attend celebration of the publication of the book. It was a pity that he could not come because the doctor did not allow him to go abroad.

During the ten years when he served as president of the JCFC since 1993, actuated by deep concern for Japan-China relations and firm conviction of friendship between the two countries, he led all the staff in the JCFC to work hard and did a great amount of substantial work to promote economic, cultural and personnel exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and give financial support to the Chinese academics’ studies of history. He was already at a senior age of over 80, but he still saw to everything himself and worked conscientiously. He often met with and entertained important Chinese personages and particularly paid great attention to the exchanges of young people between the two countries. He enthusiastically supported cultural exchanges. Whenever the Chinese Embassy in Japan held a film reception, if invited, he, accompanied by his wife, would surely come and saw the film from the beginning to the end. I remember he had seen quite a few Chinese films such as That Hill, That Man and That Dog and Pretty Mother. Whenever the JCFC held opening ceremonies of important cultural activities, he would come regardless of wind and rain. His enthusiasm and efforts for Japan-China friendship were highly commended by the Chinese Government and people of various circles. He was conferred upon the honorary title of Friendship Ambassador by the China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA).

After I came to work in the JCFC, I learned that Mr. Gotoda had written many books since he left politics at the age of 82 in 1996. I have read part of his works carefully and felt that he was far-sighted on world and state affairs and concerned about his country and people, and that he sought balance in international relations. In his books he also expressed his great care, concern and expectation of Japan-China relations. Four of his books have been translated into Chinese and published in China, which is rare among the Japanese political figures.

Since assuming the post of president of the JCFC, Mr. Gotoda visited China four times. Every time he was received by the JCFA and the CPAFFC.

In October 2004, despite the venerable age of 90, Mr. Gotoda in the company of his wife and son and leading members of the JCFC visited Beijing. State leaders Jia Qinglin and Tang Jiaxuan met with him. In the two meetings, he said that in the future he would do only one thing, i.e. to promote the improvement and development of Japan-China relations. The old man was greatly concerned about the then Japan-China relations, but full of confidence in the prospects of bilateral relations. He said that it might be the last visit abroad in his lifetime. As having experienced several historical periods of the Japan-China relations, he decided to choose to visit China. He said that during his stay in Beijing he would go to Tsinghua University to talk with young students. He would tell the younger generation truly from his lifetime experience about his views on Japan-China relations and did what little he could for the cause of Japan-China friendship.

During that visit Mr. Gotoda gave a speech to over 160 students and teachers in the reception hall of the main teaching building of Tsinghua University. In his speech he expounded his basic views on Japan-China relations. He said, as to the past, we should not deny history; as to the present, we should not cover up differences; and as to the future, as long as Japan and China strengthen exchanges and cooperation, make efforts to enhance mutual understanding, Japan-China relations have bright prospects. In his speech, which lasted more than one hour and was warmly received by the students and teachers, he also expressed his views on such issues as the Taiwan question, the Yasukuni Shrine and Japan’s economic cooperation with China.

He stressed, Taiwan question is China’s internal affairs. How Japan should handle its relations with Taiwan has been clearly stipulated in 1972 when the two countries normalized their diplomatic relations.

As to the Yasukuni Shrine issue, he pointed out, “Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visits to the Yasukuni Shrine have deteriorated feelings of the two peoples towards each other. Junichiro Koizumi said, he paid homage to the Shrine ‘in a personal state of mind’. But in my view, the ‘personal state of mind’ naturally cannot be confused with the stance of the prime minister of a state. I cannot agree with Prime Minister Koizumi’s opinion.He said, “The reason why the visit to the Yasukuni Shrine has become a diplomatic issue is that at the Shrine top war criminals who were sentenced by the Far East Military Tribunal were honoured.” He proposed from the perspective of international morality setting up new facilities to cherish the memory of the deceased or writing off the names of those top war criminals from the Shrine.

With regard to the economic cooperation, Mr. Gotoda said clearly that he did not agree with the proposal made by some Japanese politicians to stop providing ODA for China. He said that Japan should continue to provide ODA for China and that the aid of environmental protection was not only beneficial to China, but also very important to Japan.

In his speech he particularly stressed “Giving consideration of Japan-China relations in medium and long term, it is most important to give the young people correct education. To this end, it is necessary to strengthen exchanges between the young people of the two countries. Just as a Chinese proverb goes ‘it takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred to rear people’, to educate the young people seems to be a thing in the future; however, in order to ensure lasting friendship for the generations to come, to train the younger generations is the fastest shortcut.”

He also said, “If Japan and China work hand in hand, they can built a Japan-China square and an Asia square as well. It means that Asia can become one pole of the world. It is impossible for the United States to become the sole pole to dominate the world. In a future period of time, the world will be characterized with multipolarity. In this multipolar pattern, a powerful pole will be Asia. Japan and China should cooperate to build this pole.”

He stressed, “In Asia Japan-China relations should be attached great importance to.” He held that in the Japan-United States-China triangle, “it is very foolish and undesirable that two sides counter the other one side, or one side regards the other two sides as enemy.”

I am deeply grieved that Mr. Masaharu Gotoda left us forever when China-Japan relations are in the most difficult time. He passed away with his profound feelings toward the Chinese people, his worries and expectations of Japan-China relations. It is a huge loss to the cause of China-Japan friendship. We will forever cherish the memory of Mr. Gotoda, and learn from and propagate his lofty spirit of exerting himself to the utmost for promoting the development of the cause of China-Japan friendship.