Post by Linalin on Mar 10, 2005 16:10:09 GMT -5
TOKYO — Tokyo marked the 60th anniversary Thursday of the U.S. firebombings of the capital during World War II, holding ceremonies and events in honor of about 100,000 victims of the bombings.
Designating March 10 as "Day of Peace," the Tokyo metropolitan government held a memorial ceremony in Toshima Ward with about 2,000 people participating, including air raid survivors, relatives of victims and students from elementary and junior high schools in the ward.
"When we think of the victims of the air raids, we are filled with deepest regret," Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara said in an address. "I would like to express my heartfelt sorrow for the victims' relatives. We must increasingly deepen our mutual understanding with people around the world in order to realize lasting peace."
"Wars are terrifying," survivor Kisaburo Nakane told the participants. "It's painful to tell of our experience, but we want postwar generations to know the value of human life," said the 73-year-old man, who lost six family members in the air raids.
Earlier in the day, a local memorial service association held a Buddhist service. About 320 people, including Prince Akishino, younger son of Emperor Akihito, and his wife Princess Kiko, gathered at a memorial hall in Sumida Ward, where the ashes of those killed in the raids and other war victims are placed.
"We must inherit the value of peace," Masamichi Fukunaga, a vice governor of Tokyo, said in reading a message during the gathering.
On March 10, 1945, more than 300 U.S. B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs on parts of the capital, particularly on populous residential areas in eastern Tokyo, killing an estimated more than 100,000 people.
Tokyo suffered more than 100 bombing raids during the war, destroying 60% of the metropolis, according to the Center of the Tokyo Raid and War Damages in Tokyo.
After the March 10 raids, the United States attacked other cities and towns across Japan, and dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on Aug 6 and on Nagasaki on Aug 9. Japan surrendered Aug 15 that year.
Some people were actually complaining over this with the basis of Japan trying to make themselves seem like the victims. My opinion is that war is a cruel thing. All sides end up having victims and there's no reason why someone shouldn't be allowed to honor them.
Designating March 10 as "Day of Peace," the Tokyo metropolitan government held a memorial ceremony in Toshima Ward with about 2,000 people participating, including air raid survivors, relatives of victims and students from elementary and junior high schools in the ward.
"When we think of the victims of the air raids, we are filled with deepest regret," Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara said in an address. "I would like to express my heartfelt sorrow for the victims' relatives. We must increasingly deepen our mutual understanding with people around the world in order to realize lasting peace."
"Wars are terrifying," survivor Kisaburo Nakane told the participants. "It's painful to tell of our experience, but we want postwar generations to know the value of human life," said the 73-year-old man, who lost six family members in the air raids.
Earlier in the day, a local memorial service association held a Buddhist service. About 320 people, including Prince Akishino, younger son of Emperor Akihito, and his wife Princess Kiko, gathered at a memorial hall in Sumida Ward, where the ashes of those killed in the raids and other war victims are placed.
"We must inherit the value of peace," Masamichi Fukunaga, a vice governor of Tokyo, said in reading a message during the gathering.
On March 10, 1945, more than 300 U.S. B-29 bombers dropped incendiary bombs on parts of the capital, particularly on populous residential areas in eastern Tokyo, killing an estimated more than 100,000 people.
Tokyo suffered more than 100 bombing raids during the war, destroying 60% of the metropolis, according to the Center of the Tokyo Raid and War Damages in Tokyo.
After the March 10 raids, the United States attacked other cities and towns across Japan, and dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on Aug 6 and on Nagasaki on Aug 9. Japan surrendered Aug 15 that year.
Some people were actually complaining over this with the basis of Japan trying to make themselves seem like the victims. My opinion is that war is a cruel thing. All sides end up having victims and there's no reason why someone shouldn't be allowed to honor them.
