Minato Ward will hold the "Yamanote Air Raid 81st Anniversary Memorial: A Gathering of Readings and Music" with the aim of passing on the experience of the Yamanote air raids to future generations and learning from history to prevent war from happening again.

As 81 years have passed since the end of the war, and the generation that can directly speak of their wartime experiences is dwindling, this year, members of the Minato Ward Youth Peace Corps (high school age) will participate in the readings for the first time. On the day, through talks by air raid survivors and readings of wartime accounts by children and students from the Aoyama district, we will create an opportunity to pass on the memories of war across generations and reflect on the preciousness of peace.

Last year's event

Overview of the Yamanote Air Raid 81st Anniversary Memorial: A Gathering of Readings and Music

Date and Time: Sunday, July 12, 2026, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Doors open at 12:30 PM)

*Ward Mayor Seike is also scheduled to attend.

Location: Minato Ward Aonan Elementary School Gymnasium (4-21-15 Minami-Aoyama, Minato Ward)

Co-organized by: Minato Ward and the Executive Committee to Pass on the Stories of the Yamanote Air Raids

Content:

- Talks by people who experienced war and air raids

- Readings of wartime accounts

- Piano, viola, and flute performances

- Exchange of opinions with attendees

Memories of the Yamanote Air Raids for the Future

During the Asia-Pacific War, the Yamanote area, including Minato Ward, was subjected to air raids numerous times. Among them, the air raid from the night of May 25, 1945, to the early morning of May 26, caused extensive damage, and many people died throughout the ward, particularly in the former Akasaka Ward (Akasaka and Aoyama).

The "Gathering of Readings and Music" has been held since fiscal year 2016 with the aim of passing on the experience of the Yamanote air raids to future generations and learning from history to prevent war from happening again. Since fiscal year 2025, it has been implemented as a co-sponsored project with Minato Ward.

This year, members of the Minato Ward Youth Peace Corps, who are scheduled to participate in a training program in Nagasaki Prefecture, will participate in the readings for the first time. Through activity introductions, we will also disseminate the peace learning initiatives undertaken by the younger generation.

[Minato Ward Youth Peace Corps]

This organization is composed of high school-aged individuals who live, work, or study in the ward. This year, 14 members are active.

Through preliminary training and the Nagasaki dispatch program, they learn about the horrors of war and nuclear weapons, and the preciousness of peace. They also engage in activities to share their learning widely with the community through activity report meetings and ward festivals.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event