Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has called on political leaders to ensure their actions never push the nation toward war. Reflecting on his wartime childhood, the 89-year-old emphasized that the primary role of a politician is to prevent conflict through trust and diplomacy.
Born in Tokyo in 1936, Fukuda witnessed the impact of war firsthand, recalling the haunting farewells of men sent to the frontlines, many of whom never returned. These memories shaped his belief in dialogue over confrontation.
As prime minister in 2007, Fukuda worked with Chinese President Hu Jintao to establish a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and China. However, he acknowledged that tensions, particularly over the Senkaku Islands, have hindered high-level talks in recent years.
Fukuda stressed that viewing China solely as an adversary would limit progress, urging both nations to remember their shared history and culture. He concluded that preventing war requires more than rhetoric—it demands empathy, imagination, and lessons drawn from the past.