Aug. 15 is shusen kinenbi(終戦記念日: literally the end of the war anniversary), in Japan. It's been 64 years since the world war II finished. At noon on Aug. 15, 1945 the Emperor announced the Japan's acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration over the radio. It is called gyokuon hoso(玉音放送), Jewel Voice Broadcast.
During the world war II 2,120,000 people were dead, 240,000 people were killed by air raids. Since the beginning of the Second Sino-Japan War in 1937, there have been 3,300,000 victims. 111 cities were attacked by air raids and the bombardment of land by warships. 3,100,000 houses were burnt, destroyed or removed by force. Sufferers were totaled more than 8,800,000 people.
Every year since 1963 there has been a memorial service organized by the government with the presence of the Emperor, Empress, and Prime Minister at Budokan(武道館), Tokyo. It takes about one hour and from 12 noon they have a silent prayer for a minute. About 6,000 bereaved family members attended. The oldest attendance this year was 101 years old widow who lost her husband in Dec. 1944.
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