Anniversary of the End of the War & National Memorial Service for the War Dead — Marking 80 Years Since WWII

August 15th is the Victory over Japan Day.

Good morning.
Today, August 15, is Japan’s Anniversary of the End of the War.

This year, 2025, marks the 80th year since the end of World War II.
Only 80 years ago, Japan was at war with much of the world.
Through films, dramas, books, and museums, we can learn about that time, but the reality faced by those who lived through it was surely beyond anything we can fully imagine.

The Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War

On August 14, 1945, the Japanese government accepted the Potsdam Declaration.
At noon the following day, Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) delivered a radio broadcast — known as the Gyokuon-hōsō (“Jewel Voice Broadcast”) — informing the people of Japan of the nation’s unconditional surrender.
Emperor Shōwa recording the surrender speech at the Imperial Palace — the first time the Japanese people heard the Emperor’s voice.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs at the time, approximately 2.12 million Japanese soldiers died in the war, and around 240,000 civilians were killed in air raids.
Behind these numbers were cities reduced to ashes, families torn apart, and countless lives forever changed.

The National Memorial Service for the War Dead

Since 1963, the Japanese government has held the National Memorial Service for the War Dead every year.
The ceremony takes place at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, attended by bereaved families, government officials, and Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.
At precisely noon, a minute of silent prayer is observed.
The service is conducted in a religiously neutral manner to honor all of Japan’s war dead equally.

War and “Justice”

In any war, each side believes in its own form of “justice.”
Conflicts arise from disputes over territory and resources, as well as differences in religion and culture.
Yet, regardless of the cause, the result of war is always destruction and tragedy.

Toward a World Without Nuclear Weapons

It has also been 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“Never again shall we repeat the horrors of war.”
“Nuclear weapons must never be used.”
These are heavy messages handed down from the past.
The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima — preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of peace.

Hopes for the Future

May we build a world where disputes are resolved not by force, but through diplomacy and dialogue.
A time when nations can approach each other with understanding, and people everywhere can share in the value of peace.
That, I believe, is the mission of those of us living in the postwar era.

At noon today, when we bow our heads in silent prayer, let us take a moment to listen in our hearts to the voices of those who experienced the war.
May those voices form a bridge toward peace for generations to come.

Fuupa

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