Info:ndljp/pid/1121610/7

calmness and confidence and to greet the initial victories with so little hysterical jubilation.

To be sure there have been, as was, to be expected, a certain unavoidable amount of braggadocio, of petty baiting of the enemy, and of pompous laudation of our own virtues. But these evidences of national vanity which invariably accompany any war have been comparatively few.Instead, there has been a reassuring soberness which reflects the strength of the nation's will to attain its ideals at any cost. The seriousness of the national attitude is also evidence enough that Japan has not launched forth into the war for any irresponsible purpose. To be sure, there is a selfish aspect to our motives; we do want security and prosperity for ourselves. But there is also a greater idealistic aspect to our motives; we realize that our own security and prosperity cannot be assured unless our neighboring kindred peoples are also enabled to attain security and prosperity through the ejection of their alien exploiters. We are glad therefore to be the instrument for bringing this security and prosperity to all East Asia. The seriousness of our national attitude is evidence that we realize our responsibility in this regard toward our neighboring countries. 
Our national hope must be to remain sober and modest and confident and determined so as to continue to be worthy of the national destiny which will be unfolded in the days to come.

(December 31, 1941)

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