In Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park – the place where the world’s first nuclear bomb was dropped – is a cenotaph commemorating the victims of the atomic bomb. There, it is written, “Yasurakani nemutte kudasai. Ayamachi ha kurikaeshimasenu kara” (Let all the souls here rest in peace. For we shall not repeat the evil.) As this sentence contains no subject (we), some people have pointed out that it is not clear who is speaking. If the subject is the Japanese people, then Japanese people are apologizing to themselves. However, having dropped the atomic bomb, thus ending the war, it is not natural to imagine these words being attributed to the USA. In Japanese, others can understand even if you omit the subject of a sentence. Japanese people do not say “Watashi ha anata ga suki desu,” (I love you) but often only say “suki desu.” The subject Watashi ha (I) is generally omitted as it is obvious from the context. In addition, anata ga (you) is often omitted since the listener infers that it refers to them. The subject is often omitted on purpose in Japanese. As this allows the listener to interpret things in a variety of different ways, it’s often said that it is a vague way of talking. However, it is also convenient as it is a way of expressing oneself in a manner that avoids unnecessary disputes. Though no subject is referred to on the cenotaph, this sentence has been officially interpreted as referring neither to Japanese people nor Americans, but to mankind in general. The inscription reads: A prayer for the peaceful repose of the victims and pledge on behalf of all humanity never to repeat the evil of war.