Mount Ontake eruption memorial held in Nagano

A memorial ceremony was held in the village of Otaki, Nagano Prefecture, to honor the victims of the Mount Ontake eruption that occurred 12 years ago. The eruption on September 27, 2014, resulted in 58 deaths and left five people missing.

Approximately 60 people, including local residents and bereaved families, attended the event at Matsubara Sports Park. Participants observed a moment of silent prayer at 11:52 a.m., marking the exact time of the eruption. The ceremony was co-hosted by the towns of Otaki and Kiso.

The director-general of the Japan Meteorological Agency attended the ceremony for the first time in 11 years, pledging to make constant efforts to provide more accurate information. This follows a legal dispute in which bereaved families filed a damages lawsuit against the national and Nagano prefectural governments, alleging the agency failed to raise alert levels appropriately; however, the Supreme Court dismissed the case in January.