Quotes by Akihito

I am marrying her because I love her.

It truly saddens me, however, that the relationship so nurtured between our two countries should have been marred by the Second World War. The Empress and I can never forget the many kinds of suffering so many people have undergone because of that war. At the thought of the scars of war that they bear, our hearts are filled with deep sorrow and pain.

The Japanese keenly learned from Western civilisation in a bid to modernize and preserve the nation.

Today, throughout the world, all manner of confrontations give rise to unending conflicts in which many lives are lost.