Relatives of the people killed in the Japan Airlines jumbo jet crash in 1985 floated paper lanterns on a river near the crash site in Gunma Prefecture to mourn their loved ones Thursday night, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the worst single-aircraft disaster in aviation history.
The crash on Osutaka Ridge killed all but four of the 524 passengers and crew members aboard the Boeing 747 bound for Osaka from Tokyo.
Accompanied by accordion music played by local amateur musicians, the relatives lit 300 lanterns with colorful pictures and messages on them, including, "May the souls rest in peace," and floated them on the Kanna River at around 6:56 p.m., the time of the crash.