The Japanese government gathered in Tokyo on Saturday to commemorate the 81st anniversary of World War II’s conclusion, honoring roughly 3.1 million war dead while reaffirming its dedication to peace.
Held at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Chiyoda Ward, the annual ceremony brought together roughly 4,170 attendees.
Among those present were Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and surviving members of the fallen soldiers’ families. The memorial observed a moment of silence at noon to honor the dead.
During the event, Emperor Naruhito delivered an address reflecting on the decades of peace following the conflict.
”Looking back on the long period of post-war peace, reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated,” the Emperor expressed.
Echoing statements from his previous address, he emphasized the importance of historical remembrance.
”It is my sincere hope that we shall continue to pass down the memories of the sufferings endured during and after the war, and in unity of spirit, to seek peace and the happiness of the people in the future,” he added.
In her own address, Prime Minister Takaichi stated that Japan must guarantee the horrors of war are not repeated and pledged to transmit this vow to subsequent generations while working to create a hopeful nation.
Her speech omitted any expression of remorse or acknowledgment of Japan’s wartime actions toward neighboring Asian nations.
Takeshi Kanamori, an 84-year-old whose father died in the Philippines during the conflict, spoke on behalf of the bereaved relatives. He observed that while peace has endured in Japan and the war has become a distant memory for many, global conflicts persist.
”There are endless victims like us in ongoing conflicts around the world,” Kanamori stated.
Emphasizing his desire for swift global resolution to current wars, he shared his sense of duty regarding historical memory.
”My mission is to pass on the horrors of war to the next generation,” he said.
Casualties from the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 until the end of World War II included an estimated 2.3 million Japanese military personnel and approximately 800,000 civilians.