The government's annual memorial for those who died in World War II was held at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo on Monday, the 77th anniversary of the end of the war.
Many bereaved relatives decided not to attend this year due to the seventh wave of novel coronavirus infections. About 1,000 people were present, less than 20% of the level before the pandemic.
The ceremony was attended by the Emperor and Empress, the heads of the three branches of government including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and bereaved relatives. A moment of silence was observed at noon.
