TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Japan's new emperor, Naruhito,expressed deep remorse over the country's wartime past andprayed for global peace on Thursday, echoing his father's wordsin remarks at an annual ceremony marking Tokyo's surrender inWorld War Two.
Naruhito, 59, became Japan's first monarch born after thewar when he inherited the throne in May. His father, Akihito,stepped down in the first abdication by a Japanese emperor intwo centuries.
"Looking back on the long period of post-war peace,reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deepremorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never berepeated," he said.
"Together with all of our people, I pay my heartfelt tributeto all those who lost their lives in the war ... and pray forworld peace and the further development of our country,"Naruhito said, echoing his father's message a year ago.
Naruhito is a grandson of Emperor Hirohito, in whose nameJapanese troops fought World War Two.(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Linda Sieg and PaulTait)