A Garden of Peace in Times of Remembrance: VJ80 at the Japanese Garden of Peace

As 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day on 15 August, the Japanese Garden of Peace in Hammersmith Park played a meaningful role in the nation's remembrance of this historic date.

An Official Part of National Commemorations

The Garden was formally included in the government's VJ Day 80 commemorations. As part of the dawn ceremonies on 15 August 2025, a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the garden alongside simultaneous performances at The Cenotaph, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and Edinburgh Castle.

A Symbol of Reconciliation

The selection of the Japanese Peace Garden for this special ceremony was deeply symbolic. According to the Ministry of Defence, the ceremony was specifically chosen to "reflect the reconciliation which has taken place between the UK and Japan in the decades since the Second World War." This powerful moment connected the garden's peaceful present with its complex history, acknowledging both the pain of conflict and the triumph of lasting friendship.

This remarkable garden, established in 1910 for the Japan-British Exhibition, has witnessed more than a century of changing relations between Britain and Japan—from the collaborative spirit of its creation, through the darkness of wartime, to the flourishing partnership we see today.

An Honour and a Mission Fulfilled

It was a tremendous honour to have the Garden take part in these national commemorations and to see it fulfil its role as a tangible symbol of the connection between Japan and the UK. The garden's inclusion in the official VJ80 ceremonies recognised its unique status as both a historical witness and a living symbol of reconciliation.

As the nation participated in VJ Day 80 celebrations that included Their Majesties The King and Queen leading the national service at the National Memorial Arboretum, flypasts by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the lighting of iconic buildings from The Shard to Cardiff Castle, the Japanese Peace Garden provided its own unique contribution to this historic day.

The ceremony on 15 August 2025 marked not just 80 years since the end of World War II, but celebrated a transformation that few could have imagined in 1945: that a Japanese garden in London would serve as an official site for commemorating peace between former enemies—proving that true victory lies in building lasting understanding between nations.

The Japanese Garden of Peace is open to the public year-round in Hammersmith Park. The Friends of the Japanese Garden of Peace continue to welcome all who wish to contribute to this unique cultural treasure.