Victims of One of Last WWII Air Raids on Japan Mourned 80 Years On
Akita, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)--A memorial service was held in the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Thursday for the victims of one of the final air raids on the country during World War II.
The ceremony, hosted by a civic group that works to share the experiences and memories of the airstrike, took place at Akita Harbor Promotion Center in the Akita Prefecture capital, marking the 80th anniversary of the bombings of the city's Tsuchizaki district by the U.S.-led Allied powers.
Attendees, including bereaved relatives and Akita Mayor Jun Numaya, observed a moment of silence and offered flowers for the victims.
"We must never forget that the peaceful life we have now has been built on the sacrifice of each and every person who died (in the airstrike)," Kikuo Ito, the 85-year-old leader of the group, said. "We will continue paying tribute to the victims and sending out our message wishing for peace from Tsuchizaki," he said.
The bombings started around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 14, 1945, the day before Japan's surrender in the war, targeting the former Nippon Oil Co.'s Akita refinery in the Tsuchizaki district, and lasted about four hours until around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 15.
(2025/08/14-15:30)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATIONAL
-
08/20 12:58 Japan's U.S.-Bound Exports Fall for 4th Straight Month -
08/20 12:26 Famed Japanese Rocket Engineer Tomifumi Godai Dies at 92 - 08/20 11:17 Japan-U.S. Tariff Document to Be Released "Weeks Away": Lutnick
- 08/20 11:15 Japan to Provide 550 M. Dollars to "Gavi" Vaccine Alliance
- 08/20 10:30 80 Years On: Japan's Media Deployed as Propoganda Tool
- 08/20 08:30 Japanese Manufacturers Relocating Headquarters
- 08/20 08:26 Rakuten Mobile Gets Administrative Guidance over Illegal Access
- 08/19 23:49 Defense Ministry Seen Seeking Record 8.8-T.-Yen Budget
- 08/19 21:59 Putin Issues Statement on WWII Soviet Attack on Japan
- 08/19 21:56 Japanese Suspected of Ordering Killings of 2 Nationals in Manila
- 08/19 21:22 (Update) Japan to Participate in Security Guarantees for Ukraine
- 08/19 20:57 Tohoku Electric to Halt Onagawa N-Plant Reactor
- 08/19 20:47 LDP Begins Talks on Possible Early Leadership Poll
- 08/19 20:11 Pachinko Parlor Worker Arrested in Robbery Case
- 08/19 19:30 Junglia Opens with Hope of Revitalizing Northern Okinawa
- 08/19 18:11 Japan to Extend Deadline for Stockpiled Rice Sales
- 08/19 18:01 3-Year Prison Term Sought for Ex-Kadokawa Chairman over Bribery
- 08/19 17:10 Japan Steel Industry Urges Govt to Close Anti-Dumping Loopholes
- 08/19 15:32 Japan to Participate in Security Guarantees for Ukraine
- 08/19 15:23 JR Train Demand Strong during Bon Holiday
- 08/19 12:51 Kyoto Univ. Group Successfully Creates Jawbone from iPS Cells
- 08/19 12:30 80 Years On: State Policy Victimized Manchuria Pioneers
- 08/19 12:03 "Kokuho" Makes over 10 B. Yen in Box Office Revenue
- 08/19 10:42 Japanese Retail Prices of Rice Climb in Early Aug.
- 08/19 10:30 80 Years On: Hibakusha Gives Account in English, Urging Dialogue for Peace
- 08/18 23:42 2 GSDF Members Die during Training in Oita Pref.
- 08/18 21:53 U.N. Official Nakamitsu Wants Japan to Strengthen Disarmament Efforts
- 08/18 20:57 (Update 2) 2 Firefighters Dead in Osaka Building Fire
- 08/18 20:45 2 Men Arrested over Shooting of Japanese Nationals in Manila
- 08/18 19:40 80 Years On: 103-Yr-Old Cannot Forget Agony Caused by Soviet Attack
- 08/18 19:32 Maehara Drops Vision for Non-LDP, Non-JCP Govt
- 08/18 19:12 (Update) 2 Firefighters Dead in Fire in Osaka
- 08/18 18:46 CDP Leader Shifts to Seek Policy Common Ground with LDP
- 08/18 18:18 Komeito Head Supports Ishiba Staying as Prime Minister
- 08/18 18:18 (Update) Japan, Germany Confirm Cooperation over Economic Security
- 08/18 17:54 Masaharu Fukuyama Attended "Inappropriate" Fuji TV Parties
- 08/18 16:27 (Update) Japan's Nikkei, TOPIX Stock Indexes Hit New Highs
- 08/18 16:07 Japan's Nikkei, TOPIX Stock Indexes Hit New Highs
- 08/18 15:33 2 Firefighters Dead in Fire in Osaka
- 08/18 14:26 Japan, Germany Confirm Cooperation over Economic Security
- 08/18 12:29 Japan's Akie Iwai Claims First LPGA Victory at Portland Classic
- 08/18 01:49 German Foreign Minister Keen to Deepen Ties with Japan
- 08/17 23:07 (Update) 2 Japanese Shot Dead in Manila
- 08/17 21:41 2 Japanese Shot Dead in Manila
- 08/17 18:59 Japan Eyeing Measure to Speed Up Disaster Damage Recognition
- 08/17 14:24 80 Years On: Tokyo Prospers While Local Revitalization Still Insufficient
- 08/17 11:37 80 Years On: Man Remembers Tough Trip Back from Korean Peninsula
- 08/17 10:30 80 Years On: Suicide Pilots Shared True Feelings of Not Wanting to Die
- 08/17 09:08 Sho Miyake's "Tabi to Hibi" Wins Top Prize at Locarno Film Festival
- 08/17 09:00 80 Years On: Woman Orphaned by Tokyo Air Raid Had Her Life Turned Upside Down
- 08/17 08:00 80 Years On: Concerns Rising over Lack of Okinawa Backers in LDP
- 08/16 21:38 Hiroshima A-Bomb Survivor Calls for Nuclear Abolition in Australia
- 08/16 15:19 Trump Releases Message on WWII Victory over Japan
- 08/16 13:38 Taiwan Foreign Chief's Visit Affecting Japan-China Relations
- 08/16 13:00 U.N. Chief Guterres to Visit Japan to Attend TICAD 9
- 08/16 12:10 Climber Attacked by Bear in Hokkaido Mountain Found Dead
- 08/16 11:30 China Urges Japan to Make Right Choice
- 08/15 21:38 Ruling, Opposition Parties Voice Concerns over U.S. Tariffs
- 08/15 21:00 80 Years On: Son of WWII Soldier Calls for Warless Country
- 08/15 20:41 (Update) 2 Japanese Cabinet Ministers Visit Yasukuni Shrine
- 08/15 20:15 40 Pct of Young Unaware of Japan's War-End Anniversary: Jiji Poll
- 08/15 19:28 Secretary of LDP's Hagiuda Fined over Funds Scandal
- 08/15 19:23 S. Korea Pres. Seeks Deeper Ties with Japan in Liberation Day Address
- 08/15 19:17 80 Years On: Japan Govt Struggles to Collect War-Dead Remains
- 08/15 18:02 (Update 2) Japan Renews Pledge for Peace on 80th War-End Anniversary
- 08/15 17:23 80 Years On: Granddaughter Conveys Ex-Wartime PM's Wish for Peace
- 08/15 16:52 (Update) Nikkei, TOPIX Surge to End at Fresh All-Time Highs
- 08/15 16:27 Nikkei, TOPIX Surge to End at Fresh All-Time Highs
- 08/15 14:14 Japan Agriculture Min. Koizumi Visits Yasukuni Shrine
- 08/15 13:20 80 Years On: Consoling Souls of War Dead Mission for 98-Yr-Old
- 08/15 12:57 (Update) Japan Renews Pledge for Peace on 80th War-End Anniversary
- 08/15 12:47 Japan Renews Pledge for Peace on 80th War-End Anniversary
- 08/15 11:30 80 Years On: Japanese Bride in Australia Overcame Postwar Hardships
- 08/15 10:30 80 Years On: Woman Who Escaped Death on Tinian Island Pleads for Peace
- 08/15 09:30 80 Years On: Yasukuni Shrine Remains Political, Diplomatic Issue
- 08/15 09:19 Japan GDP Up Annualized 1.0 Pct in April-June
- 08/15 08:30 TICAD 9 to Seek Innovative Solutions to Challenges in Africa
- 08/14 19:52 (Update) Japan Govt Asks Fukuoka Pref. for Support to Raise Minimum Wages
- 08/14 18:19 Over 20 Pct Want Opposition-Led Govt Change in Japan: Jiji Poll
- 08/14 17:53 Sen Genshitsu, Japanese Tea Ceremony Master, Dies at 102
- 08/14 17:30 Takaichi Emerges as Public Favorite for Next PM: Jiji Poll
- 08/14 16:22 Gravel Carrier Captain Arrested over Yacht Collision in Oita
- 08/14 16:21 (Update) Ishiba Cabinet Approval Rises to 27.3 Pct: Jiji Press Poll
- 08/14 16:03 Tokyo Stocks Turn Lower after 6-Session Climb
- 08/14 15:30 Victims of One of Last WWII Air Raids on Japan Mourned 80 Years On
- 08/14 15:29 Ishiba Cabinet Approval Rises to 27.3 Pct: Jiji Press Poll
- 08/14 15:15 (Update 2) Train Line to Osaka Expo Venue Briefly Suspended
- 08/14 12:34 Tokyo Stocks Turn Down on Profit-Taking in Morning
- 08/14 11:32 (Update) Train Line to Osaka Expo Venue Briefly Suspended
- 08/14 11:30 80 Years On: Beyond A-Bombs, Grandchildren Unite for Nuclear-Free World
- 08/14 10:03 Japan Govt Calls for Moment of Silence for War Dead
- 08/14 09:30 80 Years On: Man Passing On Stories of Kamikaze Pilots
- 08/14 08:56 Train Line to Osaka Expo Venue Briefly Suspended
- 08/14 08:30 80 Years On: 102-Year-Old Recalls Secret Training for Guerrilla Warfare
- 08/13 21:32 (Update 2) 1 Dead after Yacht, Gravel Carrier Collide in Southwestern Japan
- 08/13 19:42 INTERVIEW: Indian Ambassador to Japan Underscores Quad Ties
- 08/13 19:30 S. Korean Pres. Lee to Visit Japan for Summit with Ishiba
- 08/13 19:11 Ex-Japan PM Suga Trying to Exert Influence in LDP
- 08/13 18:21 MSDF Vessels Guard British Aircraft Carrier for 1st Time
- 08/13 17:32 (Update) 1 Dead after Yacht, Gravel Carrier Collide in Southwestern Japan
- 08/13 17:04 Nikkei Ends above 43,000 for First Time
- 08/13 16:52 80 Years On: Overseas Memorial Services for Japanese Families to End
- 08/13 16:45 Japan to Begin Antidumping Probe on S. Korea, China Galvanized Steel
- 08/13 16:30 Yacht, Gravel Carrier Collide in Southwestern Japan
- 08/13 15:48 Mayor of Shizuoka Pref. City Denies Lying about Academic Record
