Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan held its annual memorial service for the war dead at Tokyo’s Budokan Arena on Thursday, paying special attention to those who died in the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as those who fell defending Okinawa.

Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio led the prayers for the 3 million who lost their lives in the Second World War

“Now, we sincerely pray for all spirits to rest peacefully and express our gratitude to them for repaying their debts,” Kishida said. “We will never forget that today’s peace and tranquility in our country are built on the precious lives and hardships of those who died in war.”

Kishida said Japan’s prosperity had been built on the lessons learned in the war. “Never again shall we repeat the horrors of war twice or thrice over,” Kishida added. “It has been 79 years since post-war reconstruction began and this vow flows not only from those who experienced it, but also transcends generations to be inherited and upheld by future generations. A world where tragic conflicts no longer arise is still ahead of us.”

The head of Japan’s parliament commented: “We must not repeat the efforts of a futile war. Our country has recovered a valuable nation through diligent efforts against war, achieved remarkable economic activities and grown into a world-class economy. We must never forget that our peaceful lives today have been built upon the efforts of everyone who fell during wartime.”

The ceremony was attended by over 3,000 people, including Japan’s leading politicians, representatives of the judiciary, the unions and media, as well as representatives of bereaved families from each prefecture.