including the emperor akihito and empress michiko. they mourned the more than 3 million war dead. prime minister shinzo abe said the peace japanese people enjoy now was built upon the sacrifices of those who died. >> translator: we will carve out the future of this country for the sake of the generation that is alive at this moment and for the generations of tomorrow facing history with humility and engraving its lessons deeply into our hearts. >> the participants paused at noon on friday for a minute of silence. >> about 80% of the relatives of the war dead who attended the ceremony this year are 70 or older. >>> now prime minister abe has chosen not to visit a shrine that honors the war dead. those remembered at yasukuni shrine included leaders convicted of war crimes after the war. an aide delivered an offering made in abe's name as leader of the ruling liberal democratic party. koichi hagiuda said abe asked him to pray for those who died for their country and for eternal peace. abe did not visit last august either. then too he made a similar offering. but he visited in decembe

including the emperor akihito and empress michiko. they mourned the more than 3 million war dead.prime minister shinzo abe said the peace japanese people enjoy now was built upon the sacrifices of those who died. >> translator: we will carve out the future of this country for