National Memorial Service for War Dead


The National Memorial Service for War Dead is an official, secular ceremony conducted annually on August 15, by the Japanese government at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. The ceremony is held to commemorate the victims of World War II. The first memorial ceremony was held on May 2, 1952.

Shūsen-kinenbi

, also written as is an informal reference used by the public, for August 15 and related to the historical events that culminated with the ending of World War 2, and the restoration of Japanese political independence.
Those events were:
It is not an official holiday under Japanese law.

Overview

By decision of the Japanese Cabinet, on May 2, 1952 the Emperor and Empress of Japan held a memorial service for war dead in Shinjuku Gyoen. The next such service was held on March 28, 1959. In 1963 the date was moved to August 15, the day the Jewel Voice Broadcast had aired in 1945.
In the following year the service was held at Yasukuni Shrine, and in 1965 it was moved to the Budokan where it is still held today. In 1982 the Diet enacted a law fixing the date of the ceremony at August 15. The service is meant to honor both Japanese military casualties and civilian victims of war, over 30 million deceased individuals in total.
The event is organized by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The Emperor and Empress are always in attendance, as well as representatives of business, labor, political, and religious organisations, and bereaved families. Roughly 6,000 attendees were recorded in 2007.
The service is scheduled at 11:51am for one hour, and is broadcast by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation.
No invited leader has ever absented himself from the memorial, including those who have criticized visits to Yasukuni Shrine. There has never been a protest from foreign powers about the memorial.

Order of service

  1. Opening
  2. Entrance of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan
  3. Anthem: Kimigayo
  4. Address by Prime Minister of Japan
  5. Moment of Silence
  6. Address by His Majesty the Emperor
  7. Addresses by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Speaker of House of Councillors, Representative for the Bereaved
  8. Exit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan
  9. Offering of Flowers
  10. Closing

    Notable events