Japan Airlines Flight 123 victims remembered 41 years after crash

On August 12, 2026, bereaved families and officials gathered in Gunma Prefecture to mark the 41st anniversary of the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash. The tragedy, which occurred in 1985 on the Osutaka Ridge, resulted in the deaths of 520 people.

Memorial activities included commemorative hikes to the crash site in Ueno, a memorial service featuring 520 candles, and a lantern floating ceremony on the Kanna River. During the service, attendees observed a moment of silence at 6:56 PM, the exact time of the original impact.

Japan Airlines President Mitsuko Toritari emphasized the importance of preventing the tragedy from being forgotten, noting that the number of employees who joined the company before the accident is rapidly declining. Family members also shared personal efforts to preserve the memory, such as a flower artist publishing a photo book of tributes and a widow sharing a picture book with local students to teach the importance of life and safety.