Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has offered his deep condolences over those killed when his country bombed Darwin during World War II.
Mr Abe and Australian PM Scott Morrison laid wreaths at the Darwin Cenotaph in the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to the city which was largely destroyed in February 1942.
Fittingly, the cenotaph overlooks the harbour where an estimated 242 Japanese aircraft attacked Darwin, which was an important base for the Allies. About 240 people were killed including some US defence members.
Mr Abe and Mr Morrison walked together in silence in Darwin's Bicentenntial Park to the cenotaph for a solemn military ceremony including the playing of the Last Post.
Australian and Japanese government ministers, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and other dignitaries attended, including Veterans NT president Bob Shewring, military veterans and curious locals.
The first attack on February 19 was the largest by a foreign power on mainland Australia and the first of more than 100 Japanese raids during the war.
"Today I renewed my vow towards peace," Mr Abe told reporters.
"I also gave thanks for the devoted efforts for the many people from Australia and Japan that achieved reconciliation.
"We are now special regional partners driving peace and prosperity."
Mr Morrison said Mr Abe's visit to Darwin and the way he had approached similar issues such as visiting Pearl Harbour in Hawaii that Japan attacked in 1941 said a great deal about his character and vision as a leader.
"This is a deeply symbolic and significant meeting," he said.
"I thank you very much for the grace, humility and sincerity with which you come to us today.
"We acknowledge our history, commemorate our sacrifice and loss today ... importantly we have further strengthened our great relationship as good friends."
The visit was a sombre one, particularly for Australians alive at the time of the raids and reconciliation was difficult for some of them, he said.
The countries' economic, security, community and historical ties were strong, he said, with Japan the nation's second largest trading partner and Japanese pearl divers first coming to Darwin in the late 19th century.
On Saturday Mr Abe will honour his country's war dead and visit the memorial of the 80-crew Japanese submarine I-124, which was sunk off Darwin in January 1942.
Australian Associated Press
