Japanese vessels come calling
Published on: Wednesday, April 05, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Two Japanese naval vessels – a destroyer and a submarine - sailed into town Tuesday and promptly renewed the country's pledge to never wage war again.The peacetime mission of destroyer, Fuyuzuki (DD – 118) and submarine Michishio, is instead to bolster ties between Japan and Malaysia on top of being part of the training course for naval aviators on board.It is headed by Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) Training Submarine Division One Commander Captain Hiroyuki Habuchi, leading about 310 crew members including 50 midshipmen cadet pilots, on a four-day Japan – Malaysia defence exchange programme to the Sepanggar Naval Base here.
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"We have two goals for our cruise, one is to make young naval aviators grow into excellent JMSDF officers, mentally and physically, through training and port calls," said Habuchi. "The other one is to deepen the relationship between Japan and Malaysia with all our crew and this is the very chance to achieve our mission. "We believe that Kota Kinabalu is one of the best places for us Japanese to learn the history, refresh our thoughts and verify universal values such as freedom, democracy, judicial administration and so on. "In the past, there was a wretched incident in this place, on Oct 10, 1943, approximately 50 Japanese and Taiwanese people including women and children, and about 10 local people who were cooperative to the Imperial Japanese Army were killed.
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"Following this act, the Japanese side arrested 413 people as suspects, almost all were executed or starved to death. "While the Japanese Army tried to settle the situation, many local people including women and children got into trouble and killed. We must never repeat the horrors of war again," he said.
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Habuchi went on to read a statement made by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year during his visit to Pearl Harbour. The statement read 'since the war, we have created a free and democratic country that values the rule of law and has resolutely upheld our vow never again to wage war'. 'We, the people of Japan, will continue to uphold this unwavering principle, while harbouring quiet pride in the path we have walked as a peace loving nation over the 70 years since the war ended'."Our mission is to prove these words," said Habuchi.The vessels sailed into the base at about 9am and will be docked there until April 7 as part of the Japan–Malaysia defence exchange programme's Officer Candidates' Course. They were greeted by officers and personnel from the Malaysian navy who were accompanied by dancers and garland girls from the Sabah Tourism Board. Also there to greet them were about 35 students, teachers and members of the Kota Kinabalu Japanese Association. "We are happy to visit the State capital which has seen many visitors using its port as an entrance to Borneo which is known as the third largest island in the world," said Habuchi. He explained that this year's training course for aviators consists of its destroyer Fuyuzuki and submarine Michishio."The two vessels departed from Kure, Hiroshima on March 18, made a stopover at Katsuren, Okinawa, before making a port call here today," he said, adding that their next port call will be in Vietnam before returning to Japan. It is understood that the duration at sea for the destroyer is 44 days and for the submarine it is 57 days."I hope the friendship between Japan and Malaysia would be enhanced through this port call and I thank everyone for the warm welcoming ceremony," he said. Meanwhile, some 35 Japanese residents residing in the State capital seized the opportunity to visit Fuyuzuk. The multipurpose destroyer, commissioned on March 2014, as the 4th of the Akizuki class, is equipped with sophisticated weapons from torpedoes to jammer launchers, decoy launchers and canister launchers.But nothing beat the SH-60K / 60J helicopters which were clearly the main attraction for the visitors, both young and old alike. "I had the chance to visit the naval base with my school friends a few times in July last year, it was interesting, but this time it's a different ship of the latest model," said 12-year-old Gai Ueno who is of Japanese-Sabahan descent. "This is more exciting that the one before, I learned a lot of things …I like helicopters and I like studying about helicopters, so it was really nice to come here and see one up close," he said. Another resident, 10-year-old Aemy Iguchy said everything about the visit was amazing especially the helicopter. "This is my third time going on board a Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force vessel but this time it's amazing to see a helicopter," she said. Her father, Jiro Iguchy, an Environmental Conservation Consultant was equally impressed with the latest destroyer model and of course the helicopter. "My children have been to this naval base several times before and despite having stayed in Sabah for 16 years, this is my first time entering the base. "I am impressed with the high-technology, especially with the helicopter, I am also impressed with the good ties between Malaysia and Japan," he said. Meanwhile, Consul-General of Japan in Kota Kinabalu Hiroko Matsuo said she is very happy over the good ties between the Malaysian navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force."They will here for a few days and will be visiting the State capital for sight-seeing, it is good because most of the crewmen are young and new in the force, I think this is a very good experience for them," she said. The vessels, namely Fuyuzuki (DD – 118) and Michishio (submarine), will be here until April 7 as part of a four-day Japan – Malaysia defence exchange programme's Officer Candidates' Course. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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