Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed regret Wednesday for the war and Japan's past misdeeds against its neighbors.
"Our country has inflicted a great amount of damage and suffering on many countries, especially on the people of Asia," Abe said at the annual ceremony, held at Nippon Budokan Hall in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, marking Japan's surrender. "On behalf of the (Japanese) people, I would like to express my deepest condolences and remorse for those whose lives were sacrificed."
The ceremony is held every Aug. 15 to commemorate about 2.3 million Japanese service members and 800,000 Japanese civilians who died in the war. Participants included Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, Abe and other lawmakers, including Yohei Kono, speaker of the House of Representatives.