80th Anniversary of WWII Surrender: Japan Holds 'National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead'

Friday (August 15) marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II (the 80th anniversary of the end of the war). The Japanese government held the 'National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead' at the Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda, Tokyo.

According to Central News Agency, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, the three heads of government branches including the Prime Minister, bereaved families of the war dead, and various representatives—about 4,500 people—attended the ceremony. After a minute of silent prayer at noon by attendees, Emperor Naruhito will deliver a speech.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan stated that among this year's attendees at the National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead, the oldest is Shoji Nagaya, a 98-year-old citizen from Hokkaido, whose brother Yasuo Nagaya died in battle; the youngest is 3-year-old Junya Katayama, the great-great-grandson of war dead Masao Ito.

On the 15th, memorial ceremonies were held in various parts of Japan for the approximately 3.1 million people who died in the war and in the atomic bombings during WWII.

In addition, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo before 8 a.m., becoming the first cabinet member of Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet to do so.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is not expected to visit the shrine but will instead make a private offering of a tamagushi fee (ritual offering) in the name of the President of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Former Minister in charge of Economic Security and House of Representatives member Takayuki Kobayashi also visited Yasukuni Shrine in the morning and made a private tamagushi offering.

After his visit, Kobayashi told reporters: "My grandfather died in China during the war. As his descendant, I came to pay my respects. It renews my resolve to do my utmost to resolutely defend peace."

Koichi Hagiuda, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and a former Abe-faction official, also visited the shrine. Among opposition parties, Nippon Ishin no Kai leader Naoki Hyakuta has already visited, and the Sanseito (Political Party for People) is expected to have its representative Sohei Kamiya lead a group of lawmakers to visit.