Key Facts
On May 9, 2025, Shoji Nishida, a member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and House of Councillors, issued a public apology during a press conference at the National Diet. The apology addressed his controversial remarks regarding the exhibits at the “Himeyuri no To” (Himeyuri Monument) in Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture. Nishida admitted that mentioning the monument without providing adequate explanation was “highly inappropriate” and extended his apologies to the people of Okinawa and those associated with the Himeyuri Monument. He also announced that his comments would be retracted and deleted.
The controversy stemmed from Nishida’s statements during a symposium in Naha City on May 3, held in observance of Constitution Memorial Day. Reflecting on his visit to the Himeyuri Monument before becoming a legislator, Nishida claimed that the exhibit portrayed a narrative in which the Japanese military’s actions led to the deaths of the Himeyuri student nurses, while the arrival of American forces was framed as Okinawa’s liberation. He criticized this interpretation, suggesting it represented a rewriting of history.
Nishida’s remarks drew widespread criticism. The LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, demanded a retraction and apology, while opposition parties and Okinawan residents also voiced strong objections. Initially, Nishida defended his statements during a May 7 press conference, asserting that they were factual and not intended to harm Okinawans. However, he refrained from retracting his comments at that time.
In his May 9 apology, Nishida acknowledged his failure to consider the emotional impact of his remarks, stating, “I could not adequately empathize with the trauma and suffering that my words may have evoked.” He pledged to better support Okinawan policies and to be more sensitive to the sentiments of the local population. Despite this, Nishida maintained that his comments about the monument’s exhibits were based on facts, emphasizing that the issue extended beyond historical accuracy to include a lack of understanding of Okinawan perspectives.
Nishida also stood by his earlier critique of Okinawa’s education on the Battle of Okinawa, which he described as “chaotic” and a barrier to Japan’s independence.
On May 9, 2025, Shoji Nishida, a member of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the House of Councillors, apologized for his remarks about the Himeyuri Monument in Okinawa. During a press conference at the National Diet, Nishida admitted it was “highly inappropriate” to reference the monument without proper explanation. He apologized to Okinawan residents and those connected to the monument, announcing the retraction and deletion of his comments.
The controversy arose from Nishida’s statements at a May 3 symposium in Naha City, where he criticized the monument’s exhibits for allegedly portraying the Japanese military as responsible for the deaths of Himeyuri student nurses and framing the arrival of American forces as Okinawa’s liberation. His remarks were met with widespread criticism, including demands for an apology from the LDP’s coalition partner, Komeito, as well as opposition parties and Okinawan residents.
Initially defending his comments on May 7, Nishida later acknowledged their emotional impact, stating he failed to empathize with the trauma they caused. While pledging to support Okinawan policies, he maintained that his critique of the monument’s exhibits was fact-based. Nishida also reiterated his criticism of Okinawa’s education on the Battle of Okinawa, describing it as “chaotic.”
