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Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the annual Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead held at 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 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, sixty-seven years after the end of the war, Japan vows to uphold its pledge not to engage in war, and as a member of the international community, renews its pledge to pursue unceasingly the realization of international peace to ensure that the tragedy of war is never repeated.
For the sake also of the war dead who continued to hope for the stability and development of Japan, we must fulfill our mission to achieve the Rebirth of Japan through the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake."

As the clock struck noon, all 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 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.