Koichi Arai, 92, a former Imperial Guard member, prays for the repose of fallen comrades under a tree near the moat of the Imperial Palace compound in Tokyo whenever he joins well-wishers who turn out in public every Jan. 2 to see the Emperor, Empress and their Imperial brethren.
His comrades died while fighting fires at Meiji Kyuden palace inside the compound during the closing days of World War II, Arai said. The palace was the main Imperial facility, consisting of several sites where the Emperor conducted his official duties, various rituals and banquets for state guests, among other activities.
Tokyo was heavily bombed starting around 10:20 p.m. on May 25, 1945, in the third straight day of aerial attacks. Although U.S. forces may have avoided direct hits on the Imperial Palace, many of its buildings caught fire as strong winds fanned nearby blazes.