Friday, March 11, 2005

Deadly Tokyo bombing raid remembered

Japan has marked the 60th anniversary of the US air raid on Tokyo that killed about 100,000 people.

Ceremonies have taken place across the city, including one attended by members of the royal family.

The speeches at the service were restrained, laying no blame and referring to the appalling death toll as a tragedy brought about by war.

There was little anger expressed towards the Americans by the survivors either?

Most said their experiences that night had simply instilled in them a lifelong passion for peace.

The city has built a small museum and a few monuments to commemorate the bombing raid.

But this day is always overshadowed by the much larger events later in the year, marking the anniversaries of the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

By Just Us 11 March 05

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