Pictured: Deng Xiaoping getting off the plane
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="1" > preface</h1>
In October 1978, Deng Xiaoping embarked on an eight-day visit to Japan, and the day before arriving in Tokyo, Japanese media said that the "China fever" in Japan's economic circles had overheated because of Deng Xiaoping's visit to Japan. As for the "China fever" set off by Deng Xiaoping in Japan, the Japanese press figuratively called this phenomenon "Deng Xiaoping's whirlwind."
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="68" > "You brought us a rare sunny day"</h1>
Relations between China and Japan heated up rapidly after Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka's first visit to China in 1972, and before Deng Xiaoping's visit, Japan successfully established an embassy in China and concluded a long-term trade agreement. In October 1978, China and Japan concluded a treaty of peace and friendship, and it was precisely under such an opportunity that Deng Xiaoping was able to officially visit Japan.
This is the first visit to Japan by the first principal leader of our country after the founding of New China, and in order to conform to the opportunity and the desire of the two peoples for friendship from generation to generation, to continue to push Sino-Japanese friendship to a new climax, this is the main purpose of Deng Xiaoping's visit to Japan. On October 22, Deng Xiaoping and his wife, accompanied by Liao Chengzhi and foreign minister Huang Hua, arrived at Tokyo Haneda Airport by special plane.
Photo: Deng Xiaoping inspects the Japanese Self-Defense Forces
When the gangway had just docked on the plane, Japanese Foreign Minister Naoda, who had been waiting outside the cabin, took up his mind and abandoned the plan he had previously set to meet Deng Xiaoping under the gangway, and before the people around him could react, he stepped on the gangway and rushed into the cabin. In the cabin, Deng Xiaoping saw Nao Sono, who rushed in, and took the lead in saying, "I'm still here!" Yuan Tian replied with a straight smile to Deng Xiaoping:
"You've brought us a rare sunny day."
Why did Nao Sonoda say this? More than two months before Deng Xiaoping's visit to Japan, Yuan Tian went straight to Beijing to conclude a treaty of friendship, and on the day he arrived in Beijing, Beijing ushered in a heavy rain after a long drought. When Greeting him, Foreign Minister Huang Hua said, "Thank you so much for bringing us rain." ”
Deng Xiaoping smiled after listening to Yuantian's words and followed Yuantian straight out of the cabin, although Deng Xiaoping was 74 years old at the time, he did not look like an old man, and his spirit was very strong. According to the Japanese arrangement, Deng Xiaoping stayed at the Akasaka State Guest House, and as soon as he stepped in, Deng Xiaoping felt that he had entered the shrunken Versailles Palace, which was rebuilt according to the model of the French Falsay Palace and was specially used to receive foreign dignitaries.
Photo: Deng Xiaoping waved to the Japanese people
When Tanaka Kakuei visited China, he invited Premier Zhou to be the first guest here after the renovation of the Akasaka State Guest House was completed, when Premier Zhou said that as long as China and Japan concluded a treaty of friendship, he would definitely visit Japan. For various reasons, the treaty of friendship between the two countries did not come to fruition until 1978, when Deng Xiaoping, as the first Chinese leader to visit Japan, indirectly fulfilled his last wish for Premier Zhou.
The next morning, the Japanese prime minister arranged a grand welcome ceremony for Deng Xiaoping at the State Guest House, which was attended by ambassadors from 28 other countries. After the welcoming ceremony, Deng Xiaoping made a courtesy visit to the Japanese Prime Minister's residence. After the two greeted each other, Deng Xiaoping calmly took out the "Panda" brand cigarette from his pocket and handed one to everyone present, and the atmosphere was immediately enlivened.
During the conversation, the two men reviewed the tortuous process of concluding the treaty of friendship between China and Japan, and the two sides said that this treaty is of great significance to the two countries, which is conducive not only to the development and exchanges between the two countries, but also to peace in Asia and the world. The Japanese prime minister said he had the opportunity to visit China, and Deng Xiaoping said frankly:
"You are welcome at any time of convenience, and please feel free to go."
Photo: Deng Xiaoping attended the welcome banquet
The Japanese Prime Minister knew that Deng Xiaoping was going to visit the Kansai region of Japan and briefed him on some of the situation in the Kansai region. When talking about Chinese characters, the Japanese prime minister said that China's Chinese characters have changed greatly, and Japan has always used the original Chinese characters, and some of them can't understand the current newspapers. Deng Xiaoping immediately took over and said:
"As can be seen from the Chinese characters, the friendship between our two countries is long-standing."
The Japanese prime minister wrote a note to Deng Xiaoping on the spot, which was a sentence from the Book of Poetry: Takefu Zhao, Gonghou Gancheng, and introduced to Deng Xiaoping that his name was taken from this sentence, and that his name could be said to be a Chinese name. Deng Xiaoping laughed and said that it was remarkable that Japan would also regard the poor (referring to China) as friends. This modest expression of Deng Xiaoping greatly impressed the Japanese prime minister, who lamented:
"What a big country!"
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="69" > "We will look forward aggressively in the future."</h1>
After the ceremonial visit, a ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's residence for the exchange of ratifications, which was attended by both Deng Xiaoping and the Japanese Prime Minister. According to the prior agreement between the two sides, the signature was signed using brushes, bricks and ink used by both countries, and Foreign Minister Huang Hua and Nao Sonoda signed the instrument of ratification of the treaty of friendship with brushes.
Photo 丨 Exchange Ceremony of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship
In a warm atmosphere, the Japanese Prime Minister took the lead in raising the champagne glass full of champagne and shouting: "Toast to His Excellency Premier Hua Guofeng!" Deng Xiaoping came to the Japanese prime minister with a glass of wine and said:
"Toast to the health of His Majesty the Emperor, His Excellency the Prime Minister, and friends of Japan!"
The Japanese personnel present were very happy to hear Deng Xiaoping's wish to the emperor, and at this moment, Deng Xiaoping put down the wine glass in his hand and hugged the Japanese prime minister tightly. Although he always called himself a "diplomat" in front of others, the Japanese prime minister was a little flustered by Deng Xiaoping's move, and his body was stiff and he did not know what to do.
Just as Foreign Minister Nao Sonoda was worried about the image of the prime minister, Deng Xiaoping let go of the Japanese prime minister and embraced him instead, and Nao Sonoda did not react for a while, and also looked a little embarrassed.
Deng Xiaoping hugs the Japanese prime minister
After the ceremony of ratification of the exchange of treaties, Deng Xiaoping and his wife met with the Japanese emperor at the imperial palace. Prior to this, the Japanese side was very worried about this meeting, which was the first time that a new Chinese leader had met with the Japanese emperor, and the Japanese side was very worried that Deng Xiaoping would hold Emperor Hirohito responsible for the war of aggression against China on behalf of the Chinese people during the meeting.
When the two sides met, Emperor Hirohito took the initiative to shake hands with Deng Xiaoping and his wife to welcome their arrival, and then Emperor Hirohito introduced his empress to Deng Xiaoping and his wife. Emperor Hirohito was very pleased with the conclusion of a treaty of friendship between the two countries, and extended a warm welcome to Deng Xiaoping for coming to Japan without hesitation.
Although Emperor Hirohito did not show his concerns, the attentive Deng Xiaoping saw his concerns, and when talking about the possibility of concluding a friendly treaty between the two countries, Deng Xiaoping said:
"This treaty may have unexpected significance, let the past things pass, and we must actively look forward in the future."
Deng Xiaoping met with Emperor Hirohito
Deng Xiaoping's sentence "We must actively look forward in the future" made Emperor Hirohito immediately put aside his worries, and he put aside the draft of the speech he had prepared in advance and excitedly said to Deng Xiaoping:
"Although unfortunate things have happened between our two countries, as you said, it is really a good thing to conclude a treaty of friendship between the two countries, and in the future, our two countries will always be peaceful and friendly."
The atmosphere of the meeting gradually relaxed, and as famous botanists, Emperor Hirohito and Deng Xiaoping talked about urban construction from plants to urban construction, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. After the meeting, Emperor Hirohito presented Deng and his wife with a pair of silver vases, while Deng Xiaoping returned with ink scrolls and embroidered screens.
Subsequently, Emperor Hirohito set up a luncheon at the Imperial Palace to entertain Deng Xiaoping and his wife, considering that Deng Xiaoping had studied in France, the Japanese side specially added French cuisine to the luncheon, and at the same time, in order to make the meal more in line with the taste of Chinese, it also specially added bird's nest to the soup. At the luncheon, the Japanese prime minister delivered a speech reviewing the long history between the two countries, and when talking about the war between the two countries, the Japanese prime minister temporarily broke away from the speech and added a sentence:
"It's a real pity."
The People's Daily reported Deng Xiaoping's visit to Japan
The Japanese translator did not translate the ad hoc addition, but Deng Xiaoping heard it anyway. The next day, the People's Daily also published this sentence. After the banquet, reporters asked the Japanese prime minister why he added this sentence, and the Japanese prime minister avoided talking about it:
"Due to the small size of the original manuscript, there are three places that cannot be read."
During the banquet, when Deng Xiaoping expressed the need for "friendship between future generations and generations of friendship between the two countries," the emperor took over and said that for the first time in history, such friendly relations could be established between the two countries and should be continued forever. According to one of Emperor Hirohito's attendants, this was the first time he had seen the emperor in such a happy mood. After the Japanese prime minister returned to the official residence from the imperial palace, he kept muttering to himself:
"The atmosphere is very pleasant, and His Majesty's mood seems to be very good."
Pictured by Emperor Hirohito
This historic meeting between Emperor Hirohito and Deng Xiaoping was highlighted in the major Media of Japan on the same day, and the Japanese Kyodo News Agency used the phrase "unfortunate incident" during the meeting, saying that Emperor Hirohito expressed his gratitude to the Chinese people from the perspective of war responsibility.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="70" > "Today we are talking to old friends."</h1>
At the reception for the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Japan in 1972, Premier Zhou repeatedly stressed that "drinking water does not forget the people who dig wells," and affirmed the efforts of all circles in Japan to promote Sino-Japanese friendly diplomatic relations. At the time, Kakuei Tanaka was forced to resign after being accused of accepting huge commissions from American companies, and Deng Xiaoping publicly stated before the visit:
"Tanaka's case is your domestic affair, but he has made a great contribution to the resumption of sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, and we will never forget it."
Photo丨 Deng Xiaoping visited Kakuei Tanaka
When Deng Xiaoping and his party arrived at Tanaka Kakuei's mansion, Tanaka Kakuei's family was already waiting at the door to greet them, and more than 40 members of parliament lined up in the courtyard to welcome them. Tanaka Kakuei shook Deng Xiaoping's hand and said excitedly:
"When I see you, I feel like I see the late Premier Zhou."
A sentence by Kakuei Tanaka evoked Deng Xiaoping's memories, regretting that he had not seen him in Beijing that year, and then Deng Xiaoping said:
"We will not forget the old friends of the past, this is the unique feeling of the Orientals, today we are talking with the old friends, welcome you to visit China again."
Later, Tanaka Kakuei accompanied Deng Xiaoping to the lawn of the courtyard for a group photo, and also invited Deng Xiaoping to taste two famous dishes that were very characteristic of Japan, sea bream and lobster, which were carefully prepared for him, and raised a toast to congratulate the entry into force of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Friendship. Tanaka Kakuei then took Deng Xiaoping to see the camellias, a tree planted after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, which has now grown to more than two meters tall.
Kakuei Tanaka accompanied Deng Xiaoping to see the camellia trees
Deng Xiaoping presented Tanaka Kakuei with a set of tea sets and four treasures of the study room, and on the back of the Yantai was engraved the famous poems that Premier Zhou had written in Japan that year, and Tanaka Kakuei presented the book "The Beauty of Tradition" that introduced the art of flower arrangement to the wives of the visitors. Regarding Deng Xiaoping's arrival, Tanaka Kakuei was very happy and told reporters after Deng Xiaoping left:
"Deng Xiaoping had a sense of humor, and if only the Japanese had a sense of humor."
After that, Deng Xiaoping also met with the families of many deceased celebrities in Japan in various forms, thanking them for their efforts in Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations and expressing condolences to their families. Because Deng Xiaoping's schedule was really tight, Deng Xiaoping sent Liao Chengzhi to visit the chairman of the Japan-Chinese Exchange Association on his behalf, and these Japanese friends were very touched that Deng Xiaoping had come to visit them in the midst of his busy schedule, and he could not help but shed tears of excitement, and even wept uncontrollably.
<h1 class="pgc-h-center-line" data-track="71" > "This 'short giant' really lives up to his name."</h1>
After visiting Kakuei Tanaka and his Japanese friends, Deng Xiaoping held a press conference in Tokyo, and in the face of more than 400 reporters from major news agencies, Deng Xiaoping calmly and confidently expounded the significance of the conclusion of a friendship treaty between China and Japan.
"Then if my answer is wrong, please criticize."
Pictured: Deng Xiaoping at the press conference
In the face of the sharp questions raised by the reporters, Deng Xiaoping made clever answers one by one. When the reporter asked about China's modernization, Deng Xiaoping let the reporters fully appreciate his frank and open style, frankly acknowledged the development gap between China and Japan, and said that he came to Japan this time to ask For advice:
"It's not okay to look ugly and dress up like a beauty."
Journalists laughed out loud at Deng's treacherous self-criticism, but they also had to admit that it was Deng Xiaoping's bold attitude of acknowledging that it was the hope for China's rise. Subsequently, Japan's major newspapers reported the reception in a prominent position, and the Japanese media could not help but sigh at deng Xiaoping, a witty and eloquent leader:
"This 'short giant' is truly worthy of his name."
Photo丨 Deng Xiaoping on the Japanese Shinkansen
After Deng Xiaoping finished his visit to Tokyo, he took the Shinkansen to visit other cities, and on the galloping Shinkansen, the accompanying personnel asked Deng Xiaoping how he felt about riding the Shinkansen, and Deng Xiaoping replied happily:
"Fast, comfortable, speed in everything you do!"
Two days before ending his visit to Japan, Deng Xiaoping ascended Arashiyama in Kyoto to watch the beauty of the rain from the Arashi Pavilion. When talking to his entourage about Premier Zhou, Deng Xiaoping could not help but feel a thousand emotions, premier Zhou once traveled east to Japan and wrote several poems in Arashiyama, which described the scenery of Arashiyama in the rain in front of him.
Deng Xiaoping looked out into the distance in the pavilion for a while and told the Japanese entourage behind him that it was also a rainy day when Premier Zhou came to Arashiyama, and that Premier Zhou's "Arashiyama in the Rain" had been published. The Japanese escort was very happy about this, and Arashiyama, Japan, was known to the Chinese people through the poems of Premier Zhou, and could not help but feel a heartfelt honor.
Pictured: Deng Xiaoping in Nara
Deng Xiaoping then visited many places in Japan, not only to visit places of interest and monuments, but also to visit famous Japanese factories such as Panasonic. Everywhere he went, Deng Xiaoping was greeted with great hospitality. When Deng Xiaoping visited Nara, the mayor of Nara presented Deng Xiaoping with a bag of seeds of "Nara melons", which were originally grown in Xi'an, China, and later spread to Japan, where they were successfully planted. After taking over the seeds, Deng Xiaoping instructed the staff to hand over the seeds to Beihai Park for planting, so that the melons of Sino-Japanese friendship could receive a good harvest for generations.
On the afternoon of October 29, Deng Xiaoping concluded an eight-day visit to Japan and returned to his homeland from Osaka. Deng Xiaoping's successful visit to Japan has caused a great sensation in all circles in Japan. Many Japanese people believe that with the continuous advancement of China's modernization process, it will import machinery and equipment from abroad in large quantities, and China will soon become the world's largest trade market.
Photo丨 Deng Xiaoping visits a Japanese factory
According to incomplete statistics, there are relevant TV reports about Deng Xiaoping's visit to Japan, and under the non-stop rotation from morning to night, more than 23 million people watch it each time, and the rating is more than ten times that of usual. Not only does Japan attach great importance to this visit, but some Asian countries, and even the media in Europe, the United States and Africa, attach great importance to it, and a Danish media even called the week of Deng Xiaoping's visit to Japan "Shining China Week."
During Deng Xiaoping's visit, more than 200 well-known Japanese companies advertised in major media to celebrate the conclusion of a friendship treaty between China and Japan and to welcome Deng Xiaoping to Japan. As for the "China fever" that Deng Xiaoping set off across Japan, the Japanese press vividly called it "Deng Xiaoping's whirlwind."
This article is originally created by "Short Video of Spring and Autumn History", welcome to pay attention to it, take you to know more interesting historical stories!