Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a fresh pledge to support the US fight against terrorism on Sunday, the eve of his trip to Washington.
"The government of Japan is firmly resolved to strive for the eradication of terrorism," Koizumi said in a speech at a ceremony dedicated to all victims of the devastating attacks in New York and Washington on September 11.
"As an ally, Japan strongly supports the United States and is resolved to do its utmost in offering assistance and cooperation," he told a crowd of 2,000 people.
He voiced his condolences after adding a bouquet to a mountain of flowers on a white podium above which large US and Japanese flags were hanging side by side.
The premier stressed he was "resolved to work hand in hand with the nations of the world to build a peaceful international community that is free of terrorism," citing the saying "a friend in need is a friend indeed."
US ambassador Howard Baker also attended the gathering, which was hosted jointly by the Japanese government and the private-sector America-Japan Society at the Tokyo Big Sight convention hall.
A two-minute silence was observed in remembrance of those who lost their lives and prayers were offered for the safety of those missing.
Several Japanese banks, some of whose employees were missing after the attacks on World Trade Center, reportedly skipped the ceremony, saying it was inappropriate to attend a memorial service before those missing had been confirmed dead.
As many as 44 Japanese remain unaccounted for after terrorist attacks in the United States, 20 more than officially listed as missing, a foreign ministry official said last week.
Koizumi is to leave here for Washington amid agony over the nation's relegation to the wings of the world stage after the terrorist attacks.
He is to hold talks with US President George W. Bush on Tuesday as Japan has struggled to match other countries' pledges of support for Washington's global war against terrorism.
Japanese troops, called Self-Defense Forces, would not be directly involved in any military activities, which are banned under the pacifist constitution.
At a press conference last week Koizumi said Japan would "take necessary measures as soon as possible to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces" to offer logistical support to US-led forces.
He said his government was ready to revise legislation to facilitate such rearguard support but details of Japan's support were yet to be decided under constraints of the constitution.
Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party secretary general Taku Yamasaki said Sunday he wanted to enact legislation next month -- TOKYO (AFP)
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