Japan marks 76th anniversary of World War II end

Tokyo, Aug 15 (EFE).- Japan held a ceremony in Tokyo on Sunday to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Japanese surrender that ended World War II and to remember those who died.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only about 200 people attended the ceremony, which is usually attended by about 6,000 people every year.

Those in Tokyo and in various parts of Japan observed a minute of silence at noon in memory of the more than 3 million Japanese who lost their lives in the war.

Also present at the event held by the authorities in the Japanese capital were Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako as well as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

“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,” Naruhito said in his address.

“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 development of our country,” he added.

Suga underscored Japan’s commitment to making the world a more peaceful place.

“Under the banner of ‘Proactive Contribution to Peace,’ we will join forces with the international community and do all we can to solve the various challenges facing the world,” he said in his speech.

The ceremony in Tokyo was also attended by people who had lived through the war, most of them older than 70 years. EFE

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