Memorial day for the end of the war

National Memorial War Service for War Dead
The Japanese Prime Minister addressing the attendees on August 15, 2008.
Official name	全国戦没者追悼式
Observed by	Japanese
Type	National observance
Significance	A memorial service for military and civilian deaths during WW2, observed on the same day the Japanese Emperor, addressed the Japanese people, to announce the unconditional surrender of the Japanese forces.
Observances	Memorial service aired by the national broadcaster NHK
Date	August 15
Next time	15 August 2018 (2018-08-15)
Related to	National Liberation Day of Korea, Victory over Japan Day

The National Memorial Service for War Dead (全国戦没者追悼式, Zenkoku Senbotsusha Tsuitōshiki') is an official, secular ceremony conducted annually on August 15, by the Japanese government at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. The ceremony is held to commemorate the victims of World War II. The first memorial ceremony was held on May 2, 1952.

Shūsen-kinenbi (Japanese: 終戦記念日, lit. "end-of-war memorial day"), also written as shūsen no hi (Japanese: 終戦の日) is an informal reference used by the public, for August 15 and related to the historical events that culminated with the ending of World War 2, and the restoration of Japanese political independence.

Those events were:

It is not an official holiday under Japanese law.

By decision of the Japanese Cabinet, on May 2, 1952 the Emperor and Empress of Japan held a memorial service for war dead in Shinjuku Gyoen. The next such service was held on March 28, 1959. In 1963 the date was moved to August 15, the day the Jewel Voice Broadcast (玉音放送, Gyokuon-hōsō) had aired in 1945.

In the following year the service was held at Yasukuni Shrine, and in 1965 it was moved to the Budokan where it is still held today. In 1982 the Diet enacted a law fixing the date of the ceremony at August 15. The service is meant to honor both Japanese military casualties and civilian victims of war, over 30 million deceased individuals in total.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The Emperor and Empress are always in attendance, as well as representatives of business, labor, political, and religious organisations, and bereaved families. Roughly 6,000 attendees were recorded in 2007.