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Hiroshima citizens share hopes for conveying A-bomb experience through 2020 Olympics in Tokyo

On September 9, one day after Tokyo was chosen as the venue for the 2020 Summer Olympics, people in Hiroshima shared their hopes that the reality of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima will be conveyed to the world.

“It will be a great opportunity for the people of the world to understand the A-bomb experience and the history of Hiroshima’s reconstruction,” said Tomoko Watanabe, 59, the executive director of ANT-Hiroshima, a local NPO which promotes peace education internationally.

The Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 24 to August 9, 2020. That year will also mark the 75th year of the atomic bombing. Ms. Watanabe hopes that a ceremony will be held at the Olympics where people will offer a silent prayer at the time of the atomic bombing.

Jumpei Hirao, 37, the head of Hiroshima-jin University, a local NPO seeking to create peaceful communities, called on municipal administrations and other entities to operate a free bus service between Tokyo and Hiroshima. In conjunction with this service, Mr. Hirao envisions working with others to put in place venues where local people and visitors can interact.

When the Asian Games were held in Hiroshima in 1994, a program called “One Center for One Country Support Activities” was carried out on a broad scale. This program consisted of Hiroshima community centers bringing together local people with athletes of other nations for exchange activities.

Even today, some groups continue to conduct activities that were inspired by the program. Kunio Matsusue, 74, secretary general of the Kusuna-Nepal Friendship Association, which has maintained medical assistance to Nepal, expressed his hopes, saying, “Thanks to the Asian Games, we made many friendships. I’d like the Olympics to become a venue for people to experience international communication and peace.”

(Originally published on September 10, 2013)

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