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Junior Writers Reporting

"Rainbow Chorus” continues to sing for peace

Staff members of the Japanese Consumers' Cooperative Union (JCCU) Hiroshima, located in the nearby city of Hatsukaichi, have formed a chorus group called the “Rainbow Chorus” and they sing songs with their wishes for peace on the sixth day of every month in front of the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

“Hand down a blue planet and a peaceful future to our children” is the group’s motto. On June 6th, they will mark their 200th performance in the park.

The Rainbow Chorus was founded in October 1986. Initially, they came together to express their opposition to a nuclear test conducted by France, with the group first singing in front of the monument on October 6, 1995. The chorus currently consists of 27 members, ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s and the performances are free and open to all. At their previous performance, on May 6, they sang nine songs accompanied by guitar and flute, including the song “Clear, Blue Sky.”

The leader of the group, Masae Omae, 79, is an atomic bomb survivor who lives in Higashi Ward. “When I sing, I remember my classmates who died in the atomic bombing, and it brings tears to my eyes,” she said. “I want to appeal for peace through our songs.” Kyoko Ohashi, 62, an original member since the formation of the group and a resident of Nishi Ward, said, “When we’re singing, tourists and visitors from abroad stop in front of us to listen. If they can feel some of our wishes for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons, I’m happy.” (Mako Sakamoto, 15, writer and photographer)

(Originally published on May 21, 2012)

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