What is the official name of Japan’s annual 15 August ceremony honoring World War II dead?

Japan’s annual 15 August ceremony honoring World War II dead is the Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead.

The Japanese government holds the ceremony at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo each year. It commemorates military personnel and civilians who died during World War II and includes speeches, floral offerings, and a moment of silence.

The date is significant because Emperor Hirohito’s surrender broadcast was transmitted on 15 August 1945. Japan commonly regards that date as the end of the war, even though the formal surrender document was signed on 2 September.

The first ceremony was held in 1952, after the end of the Allied occupation. The event is not one of Japan’s legally established public holidays. Its official name emphasizes mourning and a commitment to peace rather than celebrating military victory.