III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 333 

Welcoming and commending the Government of Japan for extending an 

official apology to all United States former prisoners of war from the 

Pacific War and establishing in 2010 a visitation program to Japan 

for surviving veterans, family members, and descendants. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2011 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. INHOFE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Welcoming and commending the Government of Japan for 

extending an official apology to all United States former 

prisoners of war from the Pacific War and establishing 

in 2010 a visitation program to Japan for surviving 

veterans, family members, and descendants. 

Whereas the United States and Japan have enjoyed a productive and successful peace for over six decades, which has 

nurtured a strong and critical alliance and deep economic 

ties that are vitally important to both countries, the AsiaPacific region, and the world; 

Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is based on shared 

interests, responsibilities, and values and the common 

support for political and economic freedoms, human 

rights, and international law; 


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•SRES 333 ATS 

Whereas the United States-Japan alliance has been maintained by the contributions and sacrifices of members of 

the United States Armed Forces dedicated to Japan’s defense and democracy; 

Whereas, from December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, the 

Pacific War caused profound damage and suffering to 

combatants and noncombatants alike; 

Whereas, among those who suffered and sacrificed greatly 

were the men and women of the United States Armed 

Forces who were captured by Imperial Japanese forces 

during the Pacific War; 

Whereas many United States prisoners of war were subject 

to brutal and inhumane conditions and forced labor; 

Whereas, according to the Congressional Research Service, an 

estimated 27,000 United States prisoners of war were 

held by Imperial Japanese forces and nearly 40 percent 

perished; 

Whereas the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor 

and its subsequent Descendants Group have worked tirelessly to represent the thousands of United States veterans who were held by Imperial Japanese forces as prisoners of war during the Pacific War; 

Whereas, on May 30, 2009, an official apology from the Government of Japan was delivered by Japan’s Ambassador 

to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki to the last convention of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor stating, ‘‘Today, I would like to convey to you the 

position of the government of Japan on this issue. As 

former Prime Ministers of Japan have repeatedly stated, 

the Japanese people should bear in mind that we must 

look into the past and to learn from the lessons of hisVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:03 Nov 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR333.ATS SR333

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tory. We extend a heartfelt apology for our country having caused tremendous damage and suffering to many 

people, including prisoners of wars, those who have undergone tragic experiences in the Bataan Peninsula, Corregidor Island, in the Philippines, and other places.’’; 

Whereas, in 2010, the Government of Japan through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a new program 

of remembrance and understanding that, for the first 

time, includes United States former prisoners of war and 

their family members or other caregivers by inviting them 

to Japan for exchange and friendship; 

Whereas six United States former prisoners of war, each of 

whom was accompanied by a family member, and two descendants of prisoners of war participated in Japan’s 

first Japanese/American POW Friendship Program from 

September 12, 2010, to September 19, 2010; 

Whereas Japan’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on September 13, 2010, apologized to all United States former 

prisoners of war on behalf of the Government of Japan 

stating, ‘‘You have all been through hardships during 

World War II, being taken prisoner by the Japanese military, and suffered extremely inhumane treatment. On behalf of the Japanese government and as the foreign minister, I would like to offer you my heartfelt apology.’’; 

Whereas Foreign Minister Okada stated that he expects the 

former prisoners of war exchanges with the people of 

Japan will ‘‘become a turning point in burying their bitter feelings about the past and establishing a better relationship between Japan and the United States’’; 

Whereas Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro 

Fukuyama on September 13, 2010, apologized to United 


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•SRES 333 ATS 

States former prisoners of war for the ‘‘immeasurable 

damage and suffering’’ they experienced; 

Whereas the participants of the first Japanese/American 

POW Friendship Program appreciated the generosity and 

hospitality they received from the Government and people 

of Japan during the Program and welcomed the apology 

offered by Foreign Minister Okada and Deputy Chief 

Cabinet Secretary Fukuyama; 

Whereas the participants encourage the Government of 

Japan to continue this program of visitation and friendship and expand it to support projects for remembrance, 

documentation, and education; and 

Whereas the United States former prisoners of war of Japan 

still await apologies and remembrance from the successor 

firms of those private entities in Japan that, in violation 

of the Third Geneva Convention and in unmerciful conditions, used their labor for economic gain to sustain war 

production: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) welcomes and commends the Government of 

3 Japan for extending an official apology to all United 

4 States former prisoners of war from the Pacific War 

5 and establishing in 2010 a visitation program to 

6 Japan for surviving veterans, their families, and de7 scendants; 

8 (2) appreciates the recent efforts by the Gov9 ernment of Japan toward historic apologies for the 

10 maltreatment of United States former prisoners of 

11 war; 


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1 (3) requests that the Government of Japan con2 tinue its new Japanese/American POW Friendship 

3 Program of reconciliation and remembrance and ex4 pand it to educate the public and its school children 

5 about the history of prisoners of war in Imperial 

6 Japan; 

7 (4) requests that the Government of Japan re8 spect the wishes and sensibilities of the United 

9 States former prisoners of war by supporting and 

10 encouraging programs for lasting remembrance and 

11 reconciliation that recognize their sacrifices, history, 

12 and forced labor; 

13 (5) acknowledges the work of the Department 

14 of State in advocating for the United States pris15 oners of war from the Pacific War; and 

16 (6) applauds the persistence, dedication, and 

17 patriotism of the members and descendants of the 

18 American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor for 

19 their pursuit of justice and lasting peace. 

Æ 


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