Japan's emperor makes last war-end anniversary speech

Japan's Emperor Akihito has expressed deep remorse over his country's role in World War II as he made his last appearance at a ceremony marking the end of the hostilities.

The 84-year-old emperor made his final war-end anniversary speech before his abdication scheduled in April. He will be succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.

Akihito, attending Wednesday's 73rd anniversary of the end of the war at Tokyo's Budokan hall, expressed "the feelings of deep remorse" over the tragedy. He pledged to reflect on the wartime past and expressed hope that the tragedy should never be repeated.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe carries a bouquet of flowers at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery for unidentified remains of the nation's war dead in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. Japan marked Wednesday the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II. (Akiko MatsushitaKyodo News via AP)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stayed away from a Tokyo shrine that honors convicted war criminals among the war dead, apparently not to upset neighboring countries.

Abe instead sent religious offerings to the shrine.

Japanese lawmakers visit the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo to offer prayers to the war dead, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. Japan marked the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II. (Yohei NishimuraKyodo News via AP)

Bereaved family members arrive for a national memorial ceremony for the war dead at Nippon Budokan martial arts hall Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in Tokyo. Japan marked Wednesday the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Bereaved family members from Hiroshima Prefecture arrive for a national memorial ceremony for the war dead at Nippon Budokan martial arts hall Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in Tokyo. Japan marked Wednesday the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

Bereaved family members arrive for a national memorial ceremony for the war dead at Nippon Budokan martial arts hall Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in Tokyo. Japan marked Wednesday the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

102-year-old Harumi Serigano who lost her husband during the WWII in Okinawa with other bereaved family members arrive for a national memorial ceremony for the war dead at Nippon Budokan martial arts hall Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in Tokyo. Japan marked Wednesday the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)

DETROIT (AP) — The Oakland Athletics no longer have to wonder where they'll play the next few seasons. That won't make the long goodbye any easier.

The A's reacted to the announcement that this will be their last year in Oakland with a mixture of sadness and relief.

“At least as a player, you know where you’re headed,” outfielder Seth Brown said Friday before a game against the Tigers in Detroit. “There’s obviously a lot of moving parts, a lot of stuff we’re not privy to, so it’s just been kind of a waiting game on our end. Where are we going to go? Where are we going to be? So I think just having that knowledge -- at least we know where we’re going to be playing next year.”

Vivek Ranadivé, who owns the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, and Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher announced Thursday that the A’s will temporarily relocate to West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park for at least three seasons. The A's are moving to Las Vegas after a new ballpark is constructed.

The River Cats, who are affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, will continue to play at the same facility.

Fisher was unable to reach an agreement with Oakland city officials on extending the lease at Oakland Coliseum, which expires at the end of this season. The A's have played in the city since 1968.

“There's direction now, which we've talked a lot about,” Oakland A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “We've got time to kind of reflect on what this really means from an organizational standpoint, the history that we've had in Oakland, with this being now the final season. There's a lot of emotion that goes behind this.”

It will not only cause some upheaval for the players and staff but also members of the organization that work behind the scenes.

“At the end of the day, we know where we're going to be for the next three seasons after the finish this year and that in itself gives a little bit of stability,” Kotsay said. “At the same time, in the present, it's challenging in certain ways to think about the finality of this organization in Oakland.”

Sacramento will be a much smaller environment to house a major league team. Ranadivé said the River Cats venue currently seats 16,000 when counting the stands, the lawn behind center field and standing room only.

First baseman Ryan Noda is concerned with the facilities. He's hopeful that significant upgrades will be made, much like the Toronto Blue Jays did at Buffalo's Triple-A facility. The Blue Jays played at Buffalo's Sahlen Field in 2020 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“New walls, new dugouts, new locker rooms — everything they needed to become a big league stadium,” said Noda, who played some games in Sacramento as a minor leaguer. “As long as we can do something like that, then it'll be all right. But it's definitely going to be different than playing in stadiums that hold 40,000 people.”

Kotsay is confident the upgrades will occur.

“I know it will be of major league baseball quality,” he said. “It's has to be of major league baseball quality. I know the Players Association will make sure that takes place, as they did in Buffalo.”

For the rest of this season, the A's will have to deal with small home crowds and disappointed fans.

“We’re sad for the fans, the diehard fans, who always come to our games, always support us, always support the boys wearing the jersey,” Noda said.

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Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, center, shakes hands John Fisher, owner of the Oakland Athletics, before the start of a news conference where Fisher announced his team will leave Oakland after this season and play temporarily at a minor league park, during a news conference in West Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 4 2024.The A's announced the decision to play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028 on Thursday after being unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland during that time. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

John Fisher, owner of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, announces that his team will leave Oakland after this season and play temporarily at a minor league park, during a news conference in West Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 4, 2024. The A's announced the decision to play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028 on Thursday after being unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland during that time. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Sutter Health Park, home of the Triple A team Sacramento River Cats, is shown in West Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 4, 2024. The Oakland Athletics announced the decision to play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028 on Thursday after being unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland during that time. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay walks to the dugout after making a pitching change during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, March 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)