A National Memorial Service for the War Dead was held on August 15, marking the 81st anniversary of the end of World War Two.

4,180 people attended, including Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, bereaved family members from across the country, and their relatives.

Attendees observed a moment of silence to mourn the approximately 3.1 million people who lost their lives in the war.

Emperor Naruhito / I sincerely hope that we will continue to pass down the stories of the hardships endured during and after the war, unite our hearts, and continue to strive for peace and the happiness of all people into the future.

Emperor Naruhito also said in the speech to reflect on the past and stand on the foundation of deep reflection to pray for world peace and the continued development of Japan.

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae / We will never allow the horrors of war to be repeated. We will pass down this resolute vow across generations and remain steadfast in upholding it.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Takaichi did not use the word “reflection,” which former Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru included in his address in 2025 for the first time in 13 years.

On the same day, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and other cabinet ministers, along with senior LDP officials, paid their respects at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae did not visit the shrine but made an offering using her own funds.

She also prayed from a distance, facing Yasukuni Shrine from the parking lot of the ceremony venue.

She performed the traditional yōhai ritual, bowing twice, clapping twice, and bowing once.

LDP Secretary-General Suzuki Shunichi / I paid my respects today, carrying out Prime Minister Takaichi’s wishes and reflecting her intentions.

Leaders of political parties, including Sanseito and the Conservative Party of Japan, also paid their respects at the shrine.

Yasukuni Shrine honors Japan’s war dead, including convicted Class-A war criminals. Visits by Japanese political leaders have repeatedly drawn strong criticism from neighboring China and South Korea.