By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Japan on Monday observed the 80th anniversary of deadly US air raids in 1945, months before the end of World War II that killed around 100,000 people.
A memorial service was held at a park facility in Tokyo's Sumida Ward that houses the remains of many of the victims, according to the Kyodo news agency.
The ceremony was attended by about 160 people, including families of the victims, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, Crown Prince Akishino Fumihito, and Crown Princess Kiko.
Participants pledged to pass on memories to future generations as over 87% of Japan's population was born after World War II.
"We must keep the memories and lessons of this horrific war in our hearts and pass them on to future generations," Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a message to the event.
About 100,000 people were estimated to have been killed in a US Air Force bombing raid on the night of March 9-10 in the Japanese capital.
The air raid burned most of eastern Tokyo. The grisly event is known as the "Bombing of Tokyo."
After that raid, the US attacked other cities and towns across Japan and dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. The war ended Aug. 15 that year.