It's been five years since the torrential downpours that devastated parts of western Japan. Prayers were offered at ceremonies for the victims in areas that were severely affected by the disaster.

One memorial was held on Thursday in Kurashiki City in Okayama Prefecture. It was one of the hardest-hit areas, with 75 people killed.

Mimaru Kozo lost his mother, who had been living alone in the area. He said he had called her the previous night because he was worried about the heavy rain.

He said, " I was relieved to hear my mother say it wasn't raining at the time, and not to worry. But I was speechless the next morning when I saw the news on TV."

The July 2018 mudslides and flooding devastated several areas in western Japan. About 300 people were killed. The toll includes those who died afterwards from disaster-related causes. Some remain unaccounted for.

Five years on, those who lost loved ones look back on the tragedy with deep regrets.

One woman said, "No matter how many years have passed, I will always regret that I did not tell my mother to evacuate earlier at that time."

Local officials have pledged to do their best to avoid the recurrence of such tragedies.