Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend war memorial

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan have attended the annual war memorial.

Japan regards 15 August 1945 as the end of the war as it is the day that Japan officially surrendered. The annual memorial ceremony in Tokyo was attended by around 1,800 people. This number included relatives of the war dead, and the number of attendees was larger as the coronavirus measures had been eased.

A moment of silence was held at noon.

Emperor Naruhito said, ” 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. Together with all our people, I now pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war, both on the battlefields and elsewhere, and pray for world peace and for the continuing developments of our country.”

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said, “Japan is determined to work with the international community and do its utmost to resolve the various challenges facing the world.”