More than 100 people attended an event in Yokohama on Saturday to pay tribute to soldiers from the British Commonwealth and other Allied nations who were taken prisoner during World War II and who later died here.

The annual memorial service took place at the Commonwealth war cemetery in Hodogaya where participants paid their respects to the 1,873 POWs and stressed the importance of peace as this year marks the 70th anniversary of World War II's end.

"Today's service not only commemorates the war dead of previous generations but reminds us of the crucial importance of peace, and respect for human dignity in our contemporary international relations," said Capt. Willem Vermeule, defense attache at the Dutch Embassy in Tokyo who represented the Allied nations.