Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended the annual Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead held in the Nippon Budokan, in the presence of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan.

August 15 has been designated as the Day to Commemorate the War Dead and Pray for Peace, in order to pay respect to those who lost their lives in the last world war and pray for peace.

Approximately 6,000 people participated in the ceremony, including the Prime Minister of Japan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Vice-President of the House of Councillors, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, representatives of related organizations, and bereaved family members. Participants offered their heartfelt respects to all those people who lost their lives in the last world war.

The Prime Minister said in his address, "Here today, Japan renews its pledge not to engage in war and vows once more to spare no effort for the establishment of eternal world peace. We will sincerely look back on the past, hand down the lessons of that horrible war, and deepen our kizuna - the bonds of friendship - with the people of the world as a peaceful nation.
The Great East Japan Earthquake in March this year took many lives, destroyed many hometowns, and wrecked countless tranquil lifestyles. The disaster-stricken areas are now exerting every effort for recovery and reconstruction. Japan is a country that was able to recover from the ravages of World War II and overcome countless hardships thanks to the hard work of each and every Japanese citizen. With such an experience behind us, I am confident that we will absolutely be able to revitalize the affected regions and the entirety of Japan."

As the clock struck noon, all the participants offered a minute of silent prayer, followed by the address of His Majesty The Emperor. Afterwards, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Vice-President of the House of Councillors, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the representative of the bereaved family members of the war dead each gave their memorial address. The participants then offered flowers.