Japan marks 75 years since end of WWII

Aug 15, 2020 | News On Japan

Aug 15, 2020 (NHK) - People in Japan are commemorating the end of World War Two -- 75 years on. A government-organized ceremony was held in Tokyo on Saturday to honor those who died in the war.

About 550 people attended the event held every August 15th. The number this year was the smallest ever because of the coronavirus. Attendance was less than one-tenth of last year's.

At the stroke of noon, the participants, along with people across the nation, observed a moment of silence to remember approximately 3.1 million people who died in the war.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako took part in the memorial event. While the Imperial couple have been involved in events within the palace, this was their first time in public since the outbreak began in Japan.

Emperor Naruhito said, "Looking back on the long period of post-war peace, reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never again be repeated. I now pay my heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war, both on the battlefields and elsewhere, together with all of our people and pray for world peace and for the continuing development of our country."

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo reiterated Japan's commitment to making the world a better place.

Abe said, "Under the banner of a proactive contribution to peace, we will join forces with the international community and play a greater role in solving the various challenges facing the world. We shall overcome the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and carve out the future of the nation for the sake of the generations alive now and the generations of tomorrow."

As the anniversaries of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier this month also showcased, the people who experienced the war firsthand are growing older. About 80 percent of the relatives of the war dead who attended the memorial event are 70 or older.

To symbolize the passing on of memories to a new generation, a 12-year-old student whose great-grandfather died in the war also attended.

Events will be held nationwide throughout the day to remember the war dead and pray for peace.

Typhoons No. 28 and 29 Bring High Waves to Japan's Pacific Coast

Two typhoons moving across the Pacific southeast of Japan are expected to remain well away from the Japanese mainland, but powerful swells could bring rough seas to a wide stretch of the country's Pacific coastline throughout the three-day holiday weekend, according to forecasts updated at 3 a.m. on October 10.

Cyberattacks Spread Across Japan

A series of cyberattacks has disrupted business operations and exposed millions of customer records across Japan, with a ransomware attack on a cloud service provider affecting 495 companies and local governments nationwide, while convenience store operator Lawson has disclosed a separate breach involving more than 2.15 million personal information records.

Japan's First 360-Degree Projection Mapping Opens in Osaka

Japan's first 360-degree projection mapping show will open at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts on October 10, transforming the historic building into an immersive world of light, music, and seasonal imagery, with organizers hoping the attraction will also help stimulate the city's nighttime economy.

Tokyo University Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Tokyo University of Science professor emeritus Kenzo Soai has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with French chemist Henri B. Kagan for discoveries that transformed scientists' understanding of how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule.

US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours

The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Most Sightings of Fugitive Yoichi Hatta Reported in Kanto

Police in Oita Prefecture have revealed that the Kanto region accounts for the largest number of reported sightings of Yoichi Hatta, a fugitive wanted in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident in Beppu in 2022, with authorities preparing to distribute new wanted posters nationwide from November as the search enters its fifth year.