Memorial service in honor of SDF members who died in line of duty

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda offers flowers at a memorial service held at the Defense Ministry on Oct. 27 in honor of 14 members of the Self-Defense Forces who died in the line of duty in the past year. According to the Defense Ministry, a total of 1,791 SDF members have died in the line of duty since the Self-Defense Forces, including its predecessor the National Police Reserve, were established after World War II. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)