This August 15 marks the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. On that day, Prime Minister Sanae Takai delivered a speech at the large official memorial ceremony, stating, "We will never again repeat the tragedy of war," but did not mention "reflection" or a "pledge of non-war".
The Japanese government held the "National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead" at the Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, leaders of the three branches of government including the Prime Minister, and about 4,100 people from all walks of life including bereaved families of the war dead attended.
According to the Asahi Shimbun, in his speech, Naruhito mentioned "profound reflection" as in previous years, and "earnestly hoped that the tragedy of war would never happen again."
This was Takai's first attendance at this ceremony as Prime Minister since taking office in October last year.
Regarding speeches by successive Prime Ministers at the memorial ceremony each August 15, in 1993 then-Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa mentioned Japan's responsibility as an aggressor by expressing "condolence" for neighboring Asian countries, and in 1994 then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama used terms such as "profound reflection" and "determination for non-war" in his speech.
'Reflection' terminology disappears for years
Until 2012 under Yoshihiko Noda, successive prime ministers mentioned "reflection" in their speeches at the ceremony. However, beginning in 2013 with Shinzo Abe, "reflection" and a "pledge of non-war" disappeared, and there were no clear references to responsibility toward Asian countries. Subsequent prime ministers Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida also did not mention "reflection".
In 2025, which marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated in his speech, "We must never again tread the wrong path and must once again deeply engrave the reflection and lessons of that war in our hearts." This was the first time in 13 years that a prime minister used the word "reflection" in the speech.