Consulate Activities
2024/12/11
Japan-U.S. Joint Memorial Ceremony “Lives Remembered: A Tribute to the Fallen of Pearl Harbor”


On December 7, 2024, the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu and the U.S. Navy Region Hawaii co-hosted the Annual Joint Memorial Ceremony on Ford Island at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, to remember all the lives lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The ceremony has been held every December since 2016 in remembrance of the approximately 2,400 U.S. servicemen and civilians, and 65 Japanese servicemen, who died in the attack. This year’s ceremony, marking the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, was attended by former Governor Ige, Deputy Managing Director Jayaram on behalf of Honolulu City Mayor Blangiardi, Superintendent Leatherman of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and many from U.S. military services, veterans groups, Japanese-American organizations, religious groups, museum officials; as well as Japanese participants, including Nagaoka City Mayor Isoda of Niigata Prefecture. In all, approximately 80 people attended the event.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the participants paid tribute to souls of those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor and offered a silent prayer. The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band then played the Japanese and U.S. national anthems.
This was followed by speeches from Consul General Kodama; Rear Admiral Barnett, Commander, U.S. Navy Region Hawaii; Deputy Secretary General Tanimoto of the Japanese Parliamentary Group for World Federation, who read a message from Mr. ETO Seishiro, the 17th President of the Japanese Parliamentary Group for World Federation; and a keynote speech by Mr. Martinez, lead historian of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.
In his speech, Consul General Kodama articulated his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and stated that through the power of reconciliation and respect, today after 83 years have passed, Japan and the U.S., as global partners at the core of a free and open international order based on the rule of law are contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Through the continuation of this ceremony, he conveyed his hope that Pearl Harbor would be remembered by future generations as a symbol of reconciliation and friendship.
The ceremony concluded with a floral tribute by Rear Admiral Barnett and Consul General Kodama.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the participants paid tribute to souls of those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor and offered a silent prayer. The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band then played the Japanese and U.S. national anthems.
This was followed by speeches from Consul General Kodama; Rear Admiral Barnett, Commander, U.S. Navy Region Hawaii; Deputy Secretary General Tanimoto of the Japanese Parliamentary Group for World Federation, who read a message from Mr. ETO Seishiro, the 17th President of the Japanese Parliamentary Group for World Federation; and a keynote speech by Mr. Martinez, lead historian of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.
In his speech, Consul General Kodama articulated his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and stated that through the power of reconciliation and respect, today after 83 years have passed, Japan and the U.S., as global partners at the core of a free and open international order based on the rule of law are contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Through the continuation of this ceremony, he conveyed his hope that Pearl Harbor would be remembered by future generations as a symbol of reconciliation and friendship.
The ceremony concluded with a floral tribute by Rear Admiral Barnett and Consul General Kodama.

