People in Japan will commemorate the 79th anniversary of the end of World War Two on Thursday.
Every year, the Japanese government organizes a ceremony in Tokyo to remember the approximately 3.1 million people who died in the war and pray for peace.
This year, about 4,300 people will take part.
They will offer a silent prayer at noon. Emperor Naruhito will then deliver a speech.
The welfare ministry says the highest number of relatives of those who died in the war are expected to attend the event since the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry also says it is the first time in five years for the relatives from all 47 prefectures to join it.
About 75 percent of the relatives due to attend the event are aged 70 or over.
The oldest among them is a 97-year-old man from the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. An elder brother of his died in the war aged 26.
The number of people with firsthand experience of the war is shrinking. So they can pass on their memories to younger people, 64 relatives under 18 will also take part.
The ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube.
Groups of bereaved families and municipalities will also hold events across the country to mark the occasion.