Japan is still an unknown country to the people of the world, both geopolitically and historically.  Japan has built its own civilization for over 2,000 years in the Far East, which is far from the birthplace of the world’s four great civilizations and isolated from the civilizations of Mongolia and Europe.  Since ancient times, Japan has stirred the imagination of people around the world as a country with an elixir of immortality and a country that shines with gold. However, it’s only recently in the 21st century that the real Japan has come to be known. Today, with the rapid development of transportation and information networks, even if there were temporary traffic jams due to the pandemic, Japan shall be known to the world by leaps and bounds.  And Japan shall be recognized as a country with a rich culture and civilization that can contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world.  National Foundation Day should not be only a day to remember the founding of the nation and cultivate a love for the country.  It is also a day to become aware of the need to spread our wings for the sake of the world.

日本は地政学的にも歴史的にも世界の人達にはまだまだ未知の国です。世界四大文明発祥の地からも外れ、その後のモンゴルやヨーロッパの文明の地からも隔離された極東の地に、2000年を遥かに超える独自の文明を築いてきたのが日本です。不老不死の妙薬のある国、黄金に輝く国として、古来から世界の人達の想像を掻き立てはきましたが、実際の日本が知られるようになったのは21世紀に入ったつい最近からです。交通網と情報網が飛躍的に発達した今日、パンデミックによる一時渋滞はあったにせよ、今後飛躍的に日本は世界に知られる様になるはずです。そして、日本こそ世界の平和と豊かさに貢献できる豊かな文化と文明を持つ国だと認識されるはずです。建国記念の日を「建国をしのび、国を愛する心を養う」日だけに留めてはいけません。世界の為に大きく羽ばたく事を自覚する日でもあります。