Marking 80th Anniversary of Battle of Imphal at Seminar in Tokyo

I attended a seminar in Tokyo on August 30 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal. Fought between the Japanese army and British-led Allied forces in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, it is often regarded as one of the fiercest battles of World War II.

The seminar also marked the fifth anniversary of the Imphal Peace Museum, which opened in June 2019 at the foot of historic Red Hill, the site of the battle, 20 kilometers south of downtown Imphal, the state capital. The museum was built with the support of The Nippon Foundation in collaboration with the Manipur Tourism Forum.

The hybrid seminar on “Reflections on Peace from Imphal, 80 Years Later,” hosted by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, was attended either in person or remotely by Japanese and Indian diplomats, historians and policymakers, including Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George.

It served as a forum for discussions on how historical memory can be an important tool in peacebuilding as the participants reflected on how lessons from the Battle of Imphal could enhance current efforts to promote peace and understanding between the two nations.

The Battle of Imphal lasted for about four months from March to July 1944.

According to Japanese historians, military experts and others, out of the 90,000 Japanese troops massed for the operation, an estimated 30,000 were killed－not just in the fierce fighting but also as a result of starvation, disease and exhaustion suffered during their retreat after the operation was called off. An additional 40,000 Japanese were wounded. The Allied forces sustained about 12,500 casualties, according to the U.K. National Army Museum.

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Haobam Joyremba, director of the Imphal Peace Museum, emphasized the museum's critical role in preserving the memories of the intense battle, serving as a symbol of reconciliation and a bridge between the people of Japan and India.

He also underscored the importance of passing on lessons of history to future generations, particularly in a world increasingly in need of cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, with many attendees endorsing his call for the global community to support initiatives like the Imphal Peace Museum.

President Atsushi Sunami of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation underlined the importance of peace education starting from childhood, highlighting how the museum has attracted over 70,000 visitors during the past five years since its establishment－a testament to its growing influence as a place for reflection and reconciliation.

In my remarks, I expressed my gratitude to the people in northeast India, including those who fought and survived the battle, for collecting and donating artillery shells and other items as well as valuable personal notes and photographs now exhibited at the museum.

Underlining the need for peace-building in Manipur and the world at large, I stressed how important it is to involve all stakeholders－governments, organizations, and citizens alike－in addressing the challenges of today, particularly in regions recovering from conflict.

Mr. Joyremba and I reflected on the unfulfilled visit of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Imphal Peace Museum.

The two leaders had planned a symbolic visit in 2019, including a tree-planting ceremony and a conversation over tea, which was intended to solidify the bonds between the two nations and pay tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Battle of Imphal.

Unfortunately, the visit was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, leaving this gesture of peace and friendship incomplete.

We both advocated that the visit be realized by a new Japanese prime minister and Mr. Modi as a tribute to late Prime Minister Abe, who was fatally shot in 2022, emphasizing how such a symbolic act would reaffirm the deep and enduring ties between Japan and India. (On October 1, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba became Japan’s 102nd prime minister, succeeding Mr. Fumio Kishida.)

I believe that completing this visit would not only honor Mr. Abe's legacy but also reinforce the shared commitment to peace and reconciliation between the two countries.