Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited Okinawa Prefecture to attend the Memorial Ceremony to Commemorate the Fallen on the 65th Anniversary of the End of the Battle of Okinawa, on the Memorial Day for the War Dead, hosted by Okinawa Prefecture at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City.

The Prime Minister offered flowers at the National Cemetery for the War Dead, visited the Cornerstone of Peace, and then attended the memorial ceremony. The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Hirokazu Nakaima, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, and others representing the prefecture, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the House of Councillors, and relevant Cabinet Ministers, who paid tribute to the people who lost their lives to the battle.

At the ceremony, attendants observed a minute of silence at noon. That was followed by words of mourning by the Okinawa Association of War Bereaved Families, the offering of flowers by representing participants, a peace declaration by Governor Nakaima, and the reciting of a peace poem by Ms. Shiori Naka, a Futenma High School student.

Later, Prime Minister Kan delivered an address. He said, "I express my feeling of sincere mourning for the souls of the war dead. The largest ground battle in Japan during the war took place in Okinawa. Many precious lives were lost due to the horrendous battle involving all residents of Okinawa.

"We cannot, and must not, forget that the peace and prosperity of today's Japan is built on the precious sacrifice of the war dead. It is the responsibility of those in politics to make the utmost effort so that the people will never again be subject to the misery of war. As Prime Minister, I firmly pledge to bear this deep in my heart and persistently pursue the realization of international peace."

After the ceremony, the Prime Minister moved to Naha City, and held talks with Governor Nakaima.