The Imperial Couple on Thursday commemorated those who lost their lives during World War II by visiting monuments dedicated to Japanese and American soldiers on Peleliu Island, part of the west Pacific island nation of Palau.
It was the second overseas trip for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko to pay tribute to the war dead. In 2005 they visited Saipan for the same purpose.
Some 16,000 soldiers of the Imperial Japanese military died in two months of vicious fighting with U.S. forces who landed on Peleliu and the nearby island of Angaur in September 1944. Nearly 2,000 Americans troops died.
On Peleliu alone, around 10,000 Japanese troops and 1,600 U.S. soldiers were killed in battle.
Traveling to the island, located 1,000 km east of the Philippines, by helicopter from the Japan Coast Guard patrol ship Akitsushima, the Imperial Couple, who arrived in Palau on Wednesday for a two-day visit, offered flowers and silent prayers at the Monument of the War Dead in the Western Pacific, which was erected by the Japanese government and is dedicated to the memory of those who perished.
They also bowed toward Angaur Island as former Japanese soldiers who survived the fighting and families of the war dead looked on. "I hope you are well. Everyone, take care of yourself," the Emperor told them.
The Imperial Couple then laid a wreath and offered silent prayers at a separate monument for the U.S. Army 81st Infantry Division.
The Emperor and Empress also met with local islanders.
