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.

The service is scheduled at 11:51am for one hour, and is broadcast by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation.

No invited leader has ever absented himself from the memorial, including those who have criticized visits to Yasukuni Shrine.
There has never been a protest from foreign powers about the memorial.
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.
The service is scheduled at 11:51am for one hour, and is broadcast by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation.
No invited leader has ever absented himself from the memorial, including those who have criticized visits to Yasukuni Shrine. There has never been a protest from foreign powers about the memorial.
National Memorial Service for War Dead