IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2011 
Mr. HONDA (for himself, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. COHEN, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, 
Mr. FILNER, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. 
HINCHEY, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. YOUNG of Florida, Mr. 
MORAN, Mr. PLATTS, and Mrs. DAVIS of California) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs 
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 produc-
tive 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 Asia- 
Pacific region, and the world; 
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•HRES 333 IH 
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; 
Whereas the United States-Japan alliance has been main-
tained by the contributions and sacrifices of members of 
the United States Armed Forces dedicated to Japan’s de-
fense 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 tire-
lessly to represent the thousands of United States vet-
erans who were held by Imperial Japanese forces as pris-
oners of war during the Pacific War; 
Whereas on May 30, 2009, an official apology from the Gov-
ernment of Japan was delivered by Japan’s Ambassador 
to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki to the last conven-
tion of the American Defenders of Bataan and Cor-
regidor stating, ‘‘Today, I would like to convey to you the 
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•HRES 333 IH 
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 his-
tory. We extend a heartfelt apology for our country hav-
ing caused tremendous damage and suffering to many 
people, including prisoners of wars, those who have un-
dergone tragic experiences in the Bataan Peninsula, Cor-
regidor Island, in the Philippines, and other places’’; 
Whereas in 2010, the Government of Japan through its Min-
istry 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 American former prisoners of war, each of whom 
was accompanied by a family member, and two descend-
ants of prisoners of war participated in Japan’s first 
Japanese/American POW Friendship Program from Sep-
tember 12, 2010, to September 19, 2010; 
Whereas Japan’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Sep-
tember 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 mili-
tary, and suffered extremely inhumane treatment. On be-
half of the Japanese government and as the foreign min-
ister, 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 Japanese 
people will ‘‘become a turning point in burying their bit-
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•HRES 333 IH 
ter feelings about the past and establishing a better rela-
tionship between Japan and the United States’’; 
Whereas Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro 
Fukuyama on September 13, 2010, apologized to United 
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 Japanese Government 
and people during the Program and welcomed the apol-
ogy 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 friend-
ship 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 Japanese private entities that, in violation 
of the Third Geneva Convention and in unmerciful condi-
tions, used their labor for economic gain to sustain war 
production: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) welcomes and commends 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, their families, and de-
scendants; 
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(2) appreciates the recent efforts by the Gov-
ernment of Japan toward historic apologies for the 
war crimes of Imperial Japan; 
(3) requests that the Government of Japan con-
tinue its new Japanese/American POW Friendship 
Program of reconciliation and remembrance and ex-
pand it to educate the public and its school children 
about the history of prisoners of war in Imperial 
Japan; 
(4) requests that the Government of Japan re-
spect the wishes and sensibilities of the United 
States former prisoners of war by requesting those 
successor Japanese firms of private entities that 
used United States prisoner of war labor to emulate 
their government’s sincerity by offering an apology 
and supporting programs for lasting remembrance 
and reconciliation that recognizes their sacrifices 
and forced labor; 
(5) acknowledges the work of the United States 
Department of State in advocating for the United 
States prisoners of war from the Pacific War; and 
(6) applauds the persistence, dedication, and 
patriotism of the members and descendants of the 
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American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor for 
their pursuit of justice and lasting peace. 
Æ 
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