Messages from Mayors for Peace: 18 Mayors from Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Nagano, Gifu, and Aichi Prefectures
Mar. 17, 2015
1. Akira Shinoda, Mayor of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
The city of Niigata issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 2005 with wishes for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace in the world, as well as a strong desire to make the Sea of Japan the “Sea of Peace.” We believe that promoting exchange and cooperation at the level of citizens in a range of ways, including cultural, economic, and sports activities, will lead to peaceful coexistence, not only among the nations neighboring the Sea of Japan and in northeast Asia, but among the nations of the world, and we will pursue such activities in order to help build peace.
2. Shoichi Otsuka, Mayor of Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture
In the 70th year since the end of World War II, I express my deepest condolences to the people who sacrificed their lives in the war and the atomic bombings.
The love of beautiful nature and peace is a trait shared by all human beings.
In 1992, the city of Ojiya issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” with the pledge that every resident of our city will make efforts to promote peace. As a city in Japan, the only nation in human history to have experienced atomic bombings, Ojiya will work together with cities which have issued a nuclear-free declaration and share the desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace on our planet. We will continue to convey to future generations the miseries of war and the preciousness of peace.
3. Hideyuki Murayama, Mayor of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture
The city of Joetsu is a wonderful city with history and culture amid beautiful natural surroundings. It is our mission to protect our local community and hand it down to the generations to come. We must therefore never accept the use and testing of nuclear arms, which can fundamentally threaten this mission. With the determination pledged in our “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration,” we will work diligently to help abolish nuclear weapons as soon as possible by joining forces with the member cities of Mayors for Peace in Japan and around the world.
4. Kenji Kamimura, Mayor of Tsunan Town, Niigata Prefecture
Nearly 70 years have passed since the atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bombings brought about profound sorrow that the people of Japan can never forget.
We have the duty to hand down peaceful and spiritual lives to the next generation. We must embrace our history sincerely and convey to future generations the lessons learned from the consequences of the atomic bombings.
As a town that has issued a nuclear-free declaration, Tsunan works to promote peace education and build the conditions for eliminating nuclear weapons from the world.
5. Yoshinori Sawasaki, Mayor of Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture
In this milestone year of the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the number of A-bomb survivors, who have experienced indescribable suffering, is dwindling. Against this backdrop, nuclear proliferation, based on the idea of using nuclear deterrence as a shield, has been spreading, slowly but steadily.
Japan, the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, must convey to people in Japan and around the world the environmental damage and inhumanity wrought by the use of nuclear arms. With the desire to create a world without nuclear weapons and realize lasting peace as early as possible, we are committed to promoting the goal of abolishing the world’s nuclear arsenals by deepening the understanding of this objective among all our citizens.
6. Takaaki Awa, Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
The city of Nonoichi adopted a “Peace City Declaration” in March 1984.
We have been sending junior high school students from our city to the Peace Memorial Ceremony held in Hiroshima every August. The students offer chains of paper cranes folded by our citizens to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima with a prayer for peace.
Various places in Nonoichi have been holding A-bomb panel exhibitions to convey the horror of nuclear weapons and the preciousness of peace to a wider circle of people.
I sincerely hope that our desire for peace can be conveyed to children born after the war and to every country and region in the world.
7. Masao Taue, Mayor of Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture
I express my respect and appreciation for the municipalities committed to the abolition of nuclear weapons and peace in the world.
With the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki approaching, events of August 1945 that took so many lives in an instant, the A-bomb survivors continue to suffer from the aftereffects.
We will continue calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a peaceful world as we work together with the members of Mayors for Peace.
8. Juichi Arai, Mayor of Koumi Town, Nagano Prefecture
Although 70 years have passed since the world’s first atomic bombings and the end of World War II, many A-bomb survivors continue to suffer and there are a number of lingering scars from that war.
Today, some countries seek to expand their military might. Conflicts, acts of terrorism, and concerns involving nuclear development also exist, resulting in the loss of many precious lives.
With the aim of building a peaceful society without war, we are determined to do our best to help realize a peaceful world where all the people of this earth can enjoy peace and understanding and mutual support.
I express my deepest respect to those who are committed to the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace in the world and I sincerely hope that they will advance their efforts.
9. Satoru Aoki, Mayor of Shimosuwa Town, Nagano Prefecture
The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, in which so many precious lives were lost, is approaching.
Since the war, Japan has created a prosperous and peaceful society that was built on the precious sacrifices of the war victims and the diligent efforts of the people of Japan. However, even today, conflicts continue incessantly in many parts of the world, bringing suffering to many.
We have a duty to help realize a world without nuclear weapons. Let us aspire for peace in the world and hand down to younger generations, the builders of the future, our resolve so that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
10. Motohiro Kumagai, Mayor of Takamori Town, Nagano Prefecture
Nearly 70 years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings stole so many precious lives in an instant and, even today, some still suffer from the grave affereffects of those attacks.
The town of Takamori issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 1983. Since 1989, we have been sending our citizens to Hiroshima to take part in such events as the Peace Memorial Ceremony in order to learn about the tragedy of war and the preciousness of peace and to hand these down to the next generation.
In addition, the town enacted the “Takamori Town Bridge-for-Peace Ordinance” in 2010, which aims to have all of our citizens be involved in activities which can help realize lasting peace in the world.
As a member of Mayors for Peace, we are determined to continue making efforts so that the mistake of waging war will not be repeated and the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace in the world, through learning about the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will be realized.
11. Takehiko Kikuchi, Mayor of Minamiaiki Village, Nagano Prefecture
In 1945, Japan suffered attacks by weapons of mass destruction, called atomic bombs, that were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The horrific consequences, in both tangible and intangible forms, remain with us even today.
In 1985, our village raised the “Statue of No-War Commitment” at the city limits, where, during the war, our citizens had seen off soldiers heading into battle. Residents, including family members of the dead, visit the statue twice a year to offer prayers intended to comfort the souls of the victims and express the desire that there will be no more war.
All countries in the world desire peace. In the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, we must continue to call for lasting peace in the world and the abolition of nuclear weapons.
12. Kenji Ozeki, Mayor of Seki City, Gifu Prefecture
In this milestone year of the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I express my heartfelt condolences to the victims of the war, including the victims of the atomic bombings.
The city of Seki issued a “Peace City Declaration” in 1994 with the desire to help realize a genuine lasting peace without nuclear weapons and wars. The city, along with its citizens, will continue working to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace by handing down the lessons learned in war to the next generation while keeping alive the memories of that tragic time.
13. Yasunari Kato, Mayor of Toki City, Gifu Prefecture
Nearly 70 years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, even today, regional conflicts and their bloodshed, brought about by religious and ethnic clashes, continue unabated.
As the nation that experienced the first atomic bombings in human history, Japan has a duty to renew its pledge for peace, alongside the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For the sake of future generations, Japan must also convey its determination to advance peace in the world in order to widen the circle of human beings seeking a genuine peace that will not repeat the mistakes of history.
14. Tsutomu Fujiwara, Mayor of Motosu City, Gifu Prefecture
Everyone knows that nuclear weapons are a symbol of tremendous violence which only aggravate conflicts and destroy societies and the environment.
Japan, the only country in the world to have experienced nuclear attack, recognized anew the horror posed by radiation exposure when, in March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake led to a major accident at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.
I wish for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of peace in the world in order to hand down such cherished assets as our rich natural environment and our historical community without the horrific threat of nuclear arms.
15. Takaaki Hinaga, Aisai City, Aichi Prefecture
I express my deepest condolences to the people who sacrificed their lives in World War II. The city of Aisai has designated one week, from August 6 to August 15, as “Peace Prayer Week” to pursue various activities involving prayers for peace, including a peace memorial ceremony. We will continue to focus on peace administration and peace education in order to convey to the next generation the preciousness of peace.
In world affairs, we find regions where conflicts, which result in the loss of precious lives and cherished hometowns, are still being waged.
With the citizens of Aisai, I am determined to make efforts for the realization of lasting peace in the world.
16. Koji Murakami, Ama City, Aichi Prefecture
The city of Ama issued a “Peace City Declaration” on August 15, 2013 with the desire that human beings be able to live peaceful and secure lives. We have been sending junior high school students to Hiroshima, a center for peace activities, in order for them to learn about the miseries of war and the preciousness of peace.
We are making efforts to help realize the abolition of nuclear weapons and a peaceful society without war by showing respect for others in the world, by joining hands with those seeking peace, and by pledging that we will “never repeat the evil.”
17. Takuro Yamada, Mayor of Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture
The city of Inuyama issued a “Peace City Declaration” in 1985, pledging our desire for peace among human beings and our commitment to the abolition of nuclear weapons and a nuclear-free society. Living in the A-bombed nation, which has suffered painful tragedies from the use of nuclear weapons, those of us alive today have the duty to hand down a peaceful world to future generations.
In this 70th year of the atomic bombings, I express my heartfelt sympathy to so many who lost their lives in the atomic bombings and to those who still suffer from the aftereffects. I also pray for lasting peace and will continue, through the activities of Mayors for Peace and other means, to make efforts to enlighten and educate people on the importance of peace.
18. Kazuaki Hibi, Mayor of Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture
In this 70th anniversary year of the atomic bombings and the end of World War II, I recognize anew the preciousness of peace and the tragedy of war. As the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, Japan must urge other nations to advance toward a peaceful world and the abolition of nuclear weapons in a proactive manner and reflect deeply on preventing future wars.
The city of Tsushima issued a “No-War Nuclear Weapon Abolition City Declaration” in March 1982. We will continue our efforts in this spirit, forever conveying the memories of war and the preciousness of peace in order to help realize lasting peace, a desire shared by all of humanity.
The city of Niigata issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 2005 with wishes for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace in the world, as well as a strong desire to make the Sea of Japan the “Sea of Peace.” We believe that promoting exchange and cooperation at the level of citizens in a range of ways, including cultural, economic, and sports activities, will lead to peaceful coexistence, not only among the nations neighboring the Sea of Japan and in northeast Asia, but among the nations of the world, and we will pursue such activities in order to help build peace.
2. Shoichi Otsuka, Mayor of Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture
In the 70th year since the end of World War II, I express my deepest condolences to the people who sacrificed their lives in the war and the atomic bombings.
The love of beautiful nature and peace is a trait shared by all human beings.
In 1992, the city of Ojiya issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” with the pledge that every resident of our city will make efforts to promote peace. As a city in Japan, the only nation in human history to have experienced atomic bombings, Ojiya will work together with cities which have issued a nuclear-free declaration and share the desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace on our planet. We will continue to convey to future generations the miseries of war and the preciousness of peace.
3. Hideyuki Murayama, Mayor of Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture
The city of Joetsu is a wonderful city with history and culture amid beautiful natural surroundings. It is our mission to protect our local community and hand it down to the generations to come. We must therefore never accept the use and testing of nuclear arms, which can fundamentally threaten this mission. With the determination pledged in our “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration,” we will work diligently to help abolish nuclear weapons as soon as possible by joining forces with the member cities of Mayors for Peace in Japan and around the world.
4. Kenji Kamimura, Mayor of Tsunan Town, Niigata Prefecture
Nearly 70 years have passed since the atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bombings brought about profound sorrow that the people of Japan can never forget.
We have the duty to hand down peaceful and spiritual lives to the next generation. We must embrace our history sincerely and convey to future generations the lessons learned from the consequences of the atomic bombings.
As a town that has issued a nuclear-free declaration, Tsunan works to promote peace education and build the conditions for eliminating nuclear weapons from the world.
5. Yoshinori Sawasaki, Mayor of Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture
In this milestone year of the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the number of A-bomb survivors, who have experienced indescribable suffering, is dwindling. Against this backdrop, nuclear proliferation, based on the idea of using nuclear deterrence as a shield, has been spreading, slowly but steadily.
Japan, the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, must convey to people in Japan and around the world the environmental damage and inhumanity wrought by the use of nuclear arms. With the desire to create a world without nuclear weapons and realize lasting peace as early as possible, we are committed to promoting the goal of abolishing the world’s nuclear arsenals by deepening the understanding of this objective among all our citizens.
6. Takaaki Awa, Nonoichi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
The city of Nonoichi adopted a “Peace City Declaration” in March 1984.
We have been sending junior high school students from our city to the Peace Memorial Ceremony held in Hiroshima every August. The students offer chains of paper cranes folded by our citizens to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima with a prayer for peace.
Various places in Nonoichi have been holding A-bomb panel exhibitions to convey the horror of nuclear weapons and the preciousness of peace to a wider circle of people.
I sincerely hope that our desire for peace can be conveyed to children born after the war and to every country and region in the world.
7. Masao Taue, Mayor of Agematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture
I express my respect and appreciation for the municipalities committed to the abolition of nuclear weapons and peace in the world.
With the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki approaching, events of August 1945 that took so many lives in an instant, the A-bomb survivors continue to suffer from the aftereffects.
We will continue calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a peaceful world as we work together with the members of Mayors for Peace.
8. Juichi Arai, Mayor of Koumi Town, Nagano Prefecture
Although 70 years have passed since the world’s first atomic bombings and the end of World War II, many A-bomb survivors continue to suffer and there are a number of lingering scars from that war.
Today, some countries seek to expand their military might. Conflicts, acts of terrorism, and concerns involving nuclear development also exist, resulting in the loss of many precious lives.
With the aim of building a peaceful society without war, we are determined to do our best to help realize a peaceful world where all the people of this earth can enjoy peace and understanding and mutual support.
I express my deepest respect to those who are committed to the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace in the world and I sincerely hope that they will advance their efforts.
9. Satoru Aoki, Mayor of Shimosuwa Town, Nagano Prefecture
The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, in which so many precious lives were lost, is approaching.
Since the war, Japan has created a prosperous and peaceful society that was built on the precious sacrifices of the war victims and the diligent efforts of the people of Japan. However, even today, conflicts continue incessantly in many parts of the world, bringing suffering to many.
We have a duty to help realize a world without nuclear weapons. Let us aspire for peace in the world and hand down to younger generations, the builders of the future, our resolve so that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
10. Motohiro Kumagai, Mayor of Takamori Town, Nagano Prefecture
Nearly 70 years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings stole so many precious lives in an instant and, even today, some still suffer from the grave affereffects of those attacks.
The town of Takamori issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 1983. Since 1989, we have been sending our citizens to Hiroshima to take part in such events as the Peace Memorial Ceremony in order to learn about the tragedy of war and the preciousness of peace and to hand these down to the next generation.
In addition, the town enacted the “Takamori Town Bridge-for-Peace Ordinance” in 2010, which aims to have all of our citizens be involved in activities which can help realize lasting peace in the world.
As a member of Mayors for Peace, we are determined to continue making efforts so that the mistake of waging war will not be repeated and the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace in the world, through learning about the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will be realized.
11. Takehiko Kikuchi, Mayor of Minamiaiki Village, Nagano Prefecture
In 1945, Japan suffered attacks by weapons of mass destruction, called atomic bombs, that were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The horrific consequences, in both tangible and intangible forms, remain with us even today.
In 1985, our village raised the “Statue of No-War Commitment” at the city limits, where, during the war, our citizens had seen off soldiers heading into battle. Residents, including family members of the dead, visit the statue twice a year to offer prayers intended to comfort the souls of the victims and express the desire that there will be no more war.
All countries in the world desire peace. In the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, we must continue to call for lasting peace in the world and the abolition of nuclear weapons.
12. Kenji Ozeki, Mayor of Seki City, Gifu Prefecture
In this milestone year of the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I express my heartfelt condolences to the victims of the war, including the victims of the atomic bombings.
The city of Seki issued a “Peace City Declaration” in 1994 with the desire to help realize a genuine lasting peace without nuclear weapons and wars. The city, along with its citizens, will continue working to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting peace by handing down the lessons learned in war to the next generation while keeping alive the memories of that tragic time.
13. Yasunari Kato, Mayor of Toki City, Gifu Prefecture
Nearly 70 years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, even today, regional conflicts and their bloodshed, brought about by religious and ethnic clashes, continue unabated.
As the nation that experienced the first atomic bombings in human history, Japan has a duty to renew its pledge for peace, alongside the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For the sake of future generations, Japan must also convey its determination to advance peace in the world in order to widen the circle of human beings seeking a genuine peace that will not repeat the mistakes of history.
14. Tsutomu Fujiwara, Mayor of Motosu City, Gifu Prefecture
Everyone knows that nuclear weapons are a symbol of tremendous violence which only aggravate conflicts and destroy societies and the environment.
Japan, the only country in the world to have experienced nuclear attack, recognized anew the horror posed by radiation exposure when, in March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake led to a major accident at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.
I wish for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of peace in the world in order to hand down such cherished assets as our rich natural environment and our historical community without the horrific threat of nuclear arms.
15. Takaaki Hinaga, Aisai City, Aichi Prefecture
I express my deepest condolences to the people who sacrificed their lives in World War II. The city of Aisai has designated one week, from August 6 to August 15, as “Peace Prayer Week” to pursue various activities involving prayers for peace, including a peace memorial ceremony. We will continue to focus on peace administration and peace education in order to convey to the next generation the preciousness of peace.
In world affairs, we find regions where conflicts, which result in the loss of precious lives and cherished hometowns, are still being waged.
With the citizens of Aisai, I am determined to make efforts for the realization of lasting peace in the world.
16. Koji Murakami, Ama City, Aichi Prefecture
The city of Ama issued a “Peace City Declaration” on August 15, 2013 with the desire that human beings be able to live peaceful and secure lives. We have been sending junior high school students to Hiroshima, a center for peace activities, in order for them to learn about the miseries of war and the preciousness of peace.
We are making efforts to help realize the abolition of nuclear weapons and a peaceful society without war by showing respect for others in the world, by joining hands with those seeking peace, and by pledging that we will “never repeat the evil.”
17. Takuro Yamada, Mayor of Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture
The city of Inuyama issued a “Peace City Declaration” in 1985, pledging our desire for peace among human beings and our commitment to the abolition of nuclear weapons and a nuclear-free society. Living in the A-bombed nation, which has suffered painful tragedies from the use of nuclear weapons, those of us alive today have the duty to hand down a peaceful world to future generations.
In this 70th year of the atomic bombings, I express my heartfelt sympathy to so many who lost their lives in the atomic bombings and to those who still suffer from the aftereffects. I also pray for lasting peace and will continue, through the activities of Mayors for Peace and other means, to make efforts to enlighten and educate people on the importance of peace.
18. Kazuaki Hibi, Mayor of Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture
In this 70th anniversary year of the atomic bombings and the end of World War II, I recognize anew the preciousness of peace and the tragedy of war. As the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, Japan must urge other nations to advance toward a peaceful world and the abolition of nuclear weapons in a proactive manner and reflect deeply on preventing future wars.
The city of Tsushima issued a “No-War Nuclear Weapon Abolition City Declaration” in March 1982. We will continue our efforts in this spirit, forever conveying the memories of war and the preciousness of peace in order to help realize lasting peace, a desire shared by all of humanity.
