Government of Japan Encourages a Moment of Solemn Reflection for the Fallen War Heroes
On August 14, 2025, Japan will commemorate the 80th anniversary of its surrender in World War II with a government-sponsored memorial ceremony for the war dead. The ceremony, held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, will be followed by a public event at the Imperial Palace, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to deliver a speech to the public.
The ceremony will begin with a moment of silence at noon, marking the time when the emperor's surrender speech began on August 15, 1945. About 4,500 officials, bereaved families, and their descendants will observe this moment of silence, reflecting on the sacrifices made during the war.
Prime Minister Kishida will deliver a speech expressing remorse for Japan's past aggression and reaffirming the country's commitment to peace. This will be the first such speech since Shinzo Abe, who was Japan's prime minister from 2012 to 2020, did not visit the Yasukuni Shrine or give a speech during his term. The ceremony will also include a laying of wreaths at the Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial war shrine in Tokyo.
The public event at the Imperial Palace will be open to the public, and it is expected to attract a large number of people, including schoolchildren and veterans. The purpose of the ceremony is to renew the pledge for the establishment of lasting peace.
The Japanese government has announced that it will provide financial support to war-affected countries, including China and South Korea, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. The ceremony will be held in compliance with the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, which prohibit the possession, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons.
Internationally, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans organized an event titled "The Surrender of Japan: Orchestrating the End of the War" on September 2, 2025, to commemorate V-J Day. Meanwhile, China scheduled a military parade on September 3, highlighting its military strength and marking the end of World War II.
The ceremony in Tokyo is significant because it marks a solemn remembrance of the past and a renewed commitment to peace. However, the attendance of Prime Minister Kishida at the Yasukuni Shrine has been criticized by China and South Korea, as the shrine houses the war criminals convicted by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi has urged citizens to observe a moment of silence at noon on August 15, in observance of the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. This call for silence echoes the solemnity of the ceremony and the importance of remembering the past.
During the public event at the Imperial Palace, photographers are expected to capture the emotional reactions of the attendees, including schoolchildren and veterans, as they reflect on Japan's past aggression and renew their pledge for peace. In international news, politics and general-news outlets worldwide will cover the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, including the controversial visit of Prime Minister Kishida to the Yasukuni Shrine, and reactions from China and South Korea.
