HITOYOSHI, KUMAMOTO PREF. - A memorial ceremony was held in Kumamoto Prefecture on Sunday to mark the sixth anniversary of the heavy rain disaster that left 67 people dead and two others unaccounted for in the prefecture.At the ceremony in the city of Hitoyoshi, one of the hardest hit areas, 48 participants, including bereaved family members, land minister Yasushi Kaneko and Kumamoto Gov. Takashi Kimura, prayed for the souls of the victims.In a memorial speech representing local residents, Yusei Shiromoto, a 17-year-old high school student, said, “As a generation that has actually experienced the heavy rain disaster, we should never forget our memories and lessons.” He added, “It is important to continue thinking about what we can do and take action to create a society where such sorrow is not repeated.”