VJ Day Remembrance in the UK

King Charles marks the 80th anniversary with a service in the UK while Japan and its neighbours watch how memory and diplomacy intersect.

British Crown Leads 80th VJ Day Remembrance as Japan Reflects

King Charles led the United Kingdom’s national service marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender. The king was joined by Queen Camilla, the prime minister and 33 veterans aged 96 to 105 at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Wreaths were laid and a flypast by the Red Arrows accompanied testimonies from veterans who fought in the Far East. A Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Lancaster bomber flew over as the ceremony underscored the heavy price paid in that war.

In Tokyo, Emperor Naruhito spoke of deep remorse and sorrow in a solemn address. Two Japanese cabinet ministers visited Yasukuni Shrine, a move that drew protests from China and South Korea. China summoned the Japanese embassy to lodge solemn representations over the visit. In the UK, King Charles delivered an audio message about prisoners of war and the suffering in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, noting the price paid by civilians. Across Britain, landmarks were lit to mark VJ Day 80.

The ceremony shows memory as a living force in politics. The monarchy continues to shape national memory, even as foreign policy is tested by missteps tied to wartime symbols. The shrine visit underscores how remembrance can be a bridge or a fault line in regional relations.

Memory in such moments is not merely about the past; it guides present choices. How leaders translate memory into peaceful action will influence diplomacy with Asia and Britain’s own political climate at home. The tension between honoring sacrifice and addressing historic grievances will test public trust in institutions that preside over remembrance.

Highlights

Memory can guide peace, but only if leaders choose to listen to the living meanings of the past.