Imperial Family Pays Respects at Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall for War and Disaster Victims

Imperial Family Honors Victims of War and Disaster

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter, Princess Aiko, visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday, October 23, 2025, to pay their respects to the victims of the devastating Tokyo Air Raids and other significant disasters. The visit marks the culmination of the Imperial Family's commemorative engagements for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

During their solemn visit, the Imperial Family approached the altar within the hall, where they offered bouquets of white lilies and other flowers. They then bowed deeply in prayer, observed by approximately 140 individuals, including bereaved family members and local residents. Following the ceremony, the Emperor, Empress, and Princess Aiko engaged in conversations with four bereaved relatives of the air raid victims, offering their condolences and listening to their poignant stories.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall: A Repository of Memory

The Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall, also known as Ireido, stands in Yokoamicho Park and serves as a profound symbol of remembrance for two of Tokyo's most catastrophic events in the 20th century.

• The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923: This natural disaster caused immense destruction and loss of life.
• The Tokyo Air Raids of 1945: Particularly the firebombing on March 9-10, 1945, known as 'Operation Meetinghouse,' which is considered one of the most destructive aerial bombings in history. This single raid alone resulted in an estimated 100,000 deaths and left over one million people homeless.

The memorial hall houses the remains of approximately 105,000 victims of the air raids, providing a central place for mourning and reflection. It also commemorates those lost in the Great Kanto Earthquake.

A Year of Commemoration

This visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall concludes a series of trips undertaken by the Imperial Family throughout the year to honor war victims and pray for peace, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Earlier this year, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited several other significant locations, including Okinawa Prefecture, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and Iwoto Island (formerly Iwo Jima), to console the souls of those who perished in the war. Princess Aiko accompanied her parents on their visits to Okinawa and Nagasaki.

The Imperial Family's continued dedication to visiting these sites underscores their commitment to ensuring that the memories of these tragic events are passed down to future generations, reinforcing a message of peace and remembrance.