TOKYO, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister and His Cabinet issued the following information:
[Provisional Translation]
In the gracious presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and with the attendance of bereaved families of the war dead, distinguished representatives of all sectors of society, and many others, I hereby commence the annual National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead.Approximately 3.1 million of our compatriots lost their lives during the last war.Some fell on the battlefields worrying about the future of their homeland and wishing for the happiness of their beloved families. Others fell victim to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the air raids on cities throughout Japan, and the ground battles in Okinawa, am...