Addresses by His Majesty the Emperor (2023)

Professor Asama,
Distinguished guests and participants,

　It is a great pleasure for me to attend this opening ceremony of the 22nd World Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control together with participants from many countries and regions of the world.

　Automatic control technology is becoming increasingly important in all aspects of our lives. Advances in automatic control will play a critical role in enhancing sustainability of our society through self-driving cars, drones, robots, energy management, medical and bio technologies, and so on. This is today further supported by the availability of a large amount of data and novel techniques in artificial intelligence.

　Automatic control plays an important part in the field of water issues, which I have been involved in. Water is essential to life on earth, while water scarcity is a common issue across the globe. I hope that automatic control continues to contribute to the technologies for appropriate and efficient distribution of water resources around the world.

　I would like to pay tribute to all those who have worked tirelessly over the years to promote the responsible development and deployment of the science and technology of automatic control.

　Towards solving various societal challenges that our global community faces today, it is essential that we share the awareness and the goals and proceed through international collaboration. I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my wish that this congress marks an important step to this end, providing a venue for fruitful discussions and exchanges, towards the theme of “Wa: Control for Solving Societal Problems and Creating Societal Values”.

　On this Day to Commemorate the War Dead and Pray for Peace, my thoughts are with the numerous people who lost their precious lives in the last war and their bereaved families, as I attend this Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead with a deep and renewed sense of sorrow.

　Seventy-eight years have already passed since the end of the war. Our country today enjoys peace and prosperity, thanks to the ceaseless efforts made by the people of Japan. When I look back on the arduous steps taken by the people, I cannot help but be overcome with deep emotion.

　It is my sincere hope that we shall continue in unity of spirit to seek peace and the happiness of the people in the future.

　Looking back on the long period of post-war peace, reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated. Together with all our people, I now pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war, both on the battlefields and elsewhere, and pray for world peace and for the continuing developments of our country.