Japan Prays for Peace on 77th War Anniversary

Tokyo, Aug. 15 (Jiji Press)--Japanese leaders and others prayed for peace and pledged not to wage war at a ceremony held on Monday, the 77th anniversary of the country's surrender in World War II, with Emperor Naruhito using the phrase "deep remorse" again. At the government-sponsored event at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, 992 participants, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and bereaved relatives, mourned some 3.1 million people who lost their lives in the war. The memorial ceremony was scaled down for the third straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry limiting the number of bereaved relatives attending the event to 20 for each of the country's 47 prefectures. Before the pandemic, the annual ceremony was usually attended by some 6,000 people. No bereaved relatives took part from the western prefectures of Kyoto, Yamaguchi and Ehime, or the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa. Monday's ceremony began shortly past 11:50 a.m. (2:50 a.m. GMT), with all the participants observing a minute of silence for the war victims from noon. After that, Emperor Naruhito said in a speech, "Looking back on the long period of postwar 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." "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," he also said, adding: "Our country today enjoys peace and prosperity, thanks to the ceaseless efforts made by the people of Japan. When I look back on the arduous steps taken by the people, I cannot help but be overcome with deep emotion." Regarding the novel coronavirus crisis, the Emperor said, "I sincerely hope that we all work together with a unity of mind to overcome this difficult situation and continue to seek happiness of the people and world peace." In a speech, Kishida renewed the country's pledge not to fight a war again. Japan will never repeat the tragedy of war and will uphold this unwavering pledge, he said. Noting that conflicts are continuing in international society, Kishida vowed to make the utmost efforts to resolve the series of challenges facing the world. Meanwhile, Kishida stopped short of referring to Japan's responsibility for the damage it caused to other Asian countries during the war, which some of his predecessors mentioned in their speeches during war-end anniversary ceremonies. Kenichi Otsuki, an 83-year-old resident of the city of Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, whose father died in a battle in China during the war, delivered a speech as a representative of bereaved relatives. "Even now, people are losing their loved ones," due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other conflicts, Otsuki said. "I cannot help but pray for a peaceful world to come as soon as possible," he added. A total of 569 bereaved relatives attended the ceremony, according to the welfare ministry. Of them, the oldest was aged 95, and the youngest aged 7. Four people were below the age of 18. Of the 592 bereaved relatives who were planning to attend the ceremony as of Friday, 36.3 pct were born after the end of World War II. The number of bereaved relatives who took part in the annual ceremony came to 4,989 in 2019, but fell to 193 in 2020 and further to 53, a record low, in 2021. During Monday's event, "Kimigayo," the national anthem, was not sung but only played, as part of measures to prevent coronavirus infections. The ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube. END