Ambassador Kusaka and Mrs Kusaka attend the Commemorative Service for the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea

On May 5, 2017, Ambassador of Japan His Excellency Mr Sumio Kusaka and Mrs Ikuko Kusaka attended a Commemorative Service for the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea held at the Australian–American Memorial and hosted by the Australian American Association in Canberra. This year marked the first year a representative of the Japanese government has been invited to the service commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea.

In addition to Mr and Mrs Kusaka, Senator Bridget McKenzie (on behalf of the Prime Minister), Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence Ms Gai Brodtmann MP (on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition), Associate Secretary of the Department of Defence Mr Brendan Sargeant, Chargé d’Affaires to the U.S. Embassy Mr James Carouso, as well as war veterans who fought in the battle and other defence personnel attended the event. Several guests made speeches and laid wreathes.

In Ambassador Kusaka’s speech, he expressed the Japanese government’s sincerest condolences and regrets to the victims, and went on to talk about Japan’s determination to never repeat the tragedies of war and continued efforts to create a free, democratic and peaceful nation, to never forget the gratitude felt towards Australia and America who helped Japan back into the international community after the war, gratitude for the generosity of the Australian people who valued the path taken by post-war Japan, and its resolve to maintain peace and stability in the region and the global community by working closely with its allies and partner nations.(Text of Ambassador Kusaka’s speech (in English))