Hamid Karzai visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, learns from Hiroshima for Afghan reconstruction
Jun. 22, 2010
by Junji Akechi and Miho Kuwajima, Staff Writers
On June 19, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park for the first time, and learned about the reality of the damage caused by the atomic bombing and the reconstruction process of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima.
After offering flowers to the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, Mr. Karzai toured Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. While studying a model of the city in ruins and a photo of an open-air classroom after the war, he eagerly asked Koichiro Maeda, the museum's director, about how many children fell victim to the atomic bombing and how long it took Hiroshima to recover from the devastation.
Mr. Karzai also met with Keijiro Matsushima, 81, an A-bomb survivor (hibakusha) and resident of Saeki Ward. Mr. Karzai, who learned that the radiation of the atomic bombing is still tormenting hibakusha physically and mentally, said that such atrocities could not be justified for any reason and that the leaders of nuclear weapon states should visit Hiroshima to learn about the reality of the atomic bombing.
At a hotel in Minami Ward, Mr. Karzai held talks with Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki as well. Mr. Karzai asked questions about Hiroshima's reconstruction process and the peace education efforts aimed at passing on the calamity of the atomic bombing to future generations, among other things.
Mr. Karzai came to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government. He will head back to Afghanistan on June 20.
(Originally published on June 20, 2010)
On June 19, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park for the first time, and learned about the reality of the damage caused by the atomic bombing and the reconstruction process of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima.
After offering flowers to the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, Mr. Karzai toured Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. While studying a model of the city in ruins and a photo of an open-air classroom after the war, he eagerly asked Koichiro Maeda, the museum's director, about how many children fell victim to the atomic bombing and how long it took Hiroshima to recover from the devastation.
Mr. Karzai also met with Keijiro Matsushima, 81, an A-bomb survivor (hibakusha) and resident of Saeki Ward. Mr. Karzai, who learned that the radiation of the atomic bombing is still tormenting hibakusha physically and mentally, said that such atrocities could not be justified for any reason and that the leaders of nuclear weapon states should visit Hiroshima to learn about the reality of the atomic bombing.
At a hotel in Minami Ward, Mr. Karzai held talks with Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki as well. Mr. Karzai asked questions about Hiroshima's reconstruction process and the peace education efforts aimed at passing on the calamity of the atomic bombing to future generations, among other things.
Mr. Karzai came to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government. He will head back to Afghanistan on June 20.
(Originally published on June 20, 2010)
