Japan’s Emperor Pays Respects at U.S. War Cemetery
Japan’s Emperor Akihito dedicated a wreath Friday at a U.S. war cemetery in Honolulu in tribute to U.S. soldiers and sailors killed in World War II.
As an honor guard fired guns in salute, Akihito also observed a minute of silence in front of the monument for the war dead in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl, overlooking central Honolulu. Two soldiers then played taps on bugles.
Honolulu is the last stop on Akihito’s and Empress Michiko’s 16-day tour of the United States. They fly home today.
“Paying tribute to the war dead is an act which is connected with promoting goodwill,” Akihito’s spokesman, Hideo Kagami, told reporters after the ceremony. “It is done with this spirit of reconciliation and friendly ties.”
Punchbowl is the final resting place for 38,052 servicemen--and their dependents--who fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf wars.
Kagami said Akihito’s visit paid particular attention to U.S. victims of the conflict with Japan.
A total of 776 casualties of Japan’s Pearl Harbor attack, which brought the two countries into World War II, are buried here.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
