Ambassador of Japan to India, Hiroshi Suzuki and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the Kohima Peace Memorial and laid the foundation stone of Eco-Park today, here in Kohima.

Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki, remembering the ordeal of “Battle of Kohima”, said that the people of Nagaland, who had nothing to do with the war, inevitably had to go through a great ordeal.

“For the Japanese people, the Battle of Kohima is remembered, along with the “Battle of Imphal,” as one of the most disastrous battles in World War II,” added Suzuki.

Suzuki expressed his honour to witness the inauguration of the Kohima Peace Memorial, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima.

“This monument enables us to stand here in solemn silence, and offer our most sincere prayers to all the victims of the battle. I extend my deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the people of Nagaland who had to endure indescribable sufferings brought forth by the Battle of Kohima.”May the souls rest in Peace,” he said.

He said the Eco-Park will be developed as part of the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) with Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Japanese Government and exuded hope that it will become a new landmark in Kohima, symbolising the friendship between Japan and Nagaland.

He also asserted that the friendship originally fostered through the remains collection between Japan and Nagaland will be further strengthened through the construction of Eco-Park as well as the exchange of young people, will become new bridges between India and Japan.

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Further, Suzuki shared that Nagaland and Japan are witnessing another chapter of friendship being fostered, with many young people from Nagaland starting to travel to Japan for skill training and job opportunities. “The Naga youths are getting very good reputation in Japan and the Japanese host companies are keen to welcome more of them” he said.

With the signing of an MOU with Nagaland University and a Japanese sending organization called ARMS to establish a Japanese language course here in Kohima, Suzuki exuded confidence that this will encourage more and more Naga youths to learn Japanese language and seize skill training and job opportunities in Japan.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio terming the day as an important milestone in the narrative of Naga – Japan partnership, he said for Nagas it was an association that started under the cloud of conflict but has today matured into one advocating peace and brotherhood of humanity, and this message is embodied by the Kohima Peace Memorial which was inaugurated today and the Eco Park for which the Foundation Stone was laid.

“We are making every effort to ensure that every citizen of our community becomes ambassadors of universal peace,” added Rio.

Rio emphasized that the Eco Park, once completed, will turn out to be a critical centre of urban space and public utility and the park will also become a testament of the newfound partnership and collaboration between the people of Japan and India, especially the Naga people. He exuded hope that this will strengthen bonds, enhance bilateral ties; increase people-to-people contact and open opportunities for the citizens of the two countries to always pursue common goals.

“The park will have outlets for entrepreneurship and livelihood initiatives, it will have spaces that celebrate our rich cuisine and unique food, there will be performance spaces and facilities for exercise, fitness, and recreation.  It will become a meeting point not just of people but a breeding ground for ideas,” he said.

Recalling Nagaland’s close association with Japan which started almost five decades ago through the Japan Association for the Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties, an association that continues even to this day, Rio asserted that this association has now matured into bi–lateral cooperation with Japan under which we have two ongoing Externally Aided Projects in the forestry and medical sectors respectively. Whereas, on the cultural front, Rio said a programme called the GENESIS programme is under implementation through which the youths of Nagaland get the opportunity to experience the rich culture of Japan, which will play a vital role in strengthening the ties between Nagaland and Japan paving way for more meaningful partnerships in the future. Nagaland sees itself at the forefront of the Government of India’s Act East policy and in gearing towards this role the

Rio also informed that with the Government of India’s Act East Policy the State has entered a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Centre of Excellence for Foreign Languages where the first comprehensive language programme offered is the Japanese language.

He assured that the state will take every possible step to ensure best practices and transparent standards in carrying out the projects and informed that the state have undertaken several measures and have put in place systems to improve “ease of doing business” in the State.

With the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima being commemorated this year, Rio informed that the State have planned a number of events that will involve the engagement of all sectors including related countries like the UK and the US. He hoped that friends from Japan will also be part of the programmes as we collectively work to communicate peace and oneness.

Mention may be made that the Kohima Peace Memorial and Eco-Park is nestled amidst one of the strategic points of Kohima opposite to the Capital Cultural Hall and overlooking the grand grandeur of Kohima town with the backdrop of Japfü Range and Mt. Puliebadze.

The Ambassador along with officials from Japan had reached Kohima late evening on 7 May 2024 for their two-day visit in Nagaland. The Japanese delegation along with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Ministers and a host of Minister and Members of Legislative Assembly and government officials also visited the Commonwealth World War II cemetery and paid their homage.

The Ambassador also visited Kohima Cathedral and World War II Museum, Chapel at Naga Heritage, Kisama.

The United Nations observes 8th and 9th May as ‘Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War’.