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Meeting of Japanese members of Mayors for Peace opens in Nagano Prefecture

by Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writer

On November 10, Mayors for Peace, for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president, opened its fourth meeting of Japanese member cities, a two-day event, at a hotel in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. The participants have begun discussing such topics as the role of Mayors for Peace in line with current international conditions involving nuclear weapons.

On the first day, 138 people, including 42 mayors from 92 cities, wards, towns, and villages in Japan took part. In his remarks, Mr. Matsui touched on the 7oth anniversary of the atomic bombing next year and the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) to be held in the United States next year as well. “I want us to share our thoughts with as many people as possible,” he said. “Mayors for Peace can function as an anchor to quell conflicts.” Yasuyoshi Komizo, chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, reported on the trend within the international community in support of disarmament and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Local students also presented their activities to promote peace. Junior and senior high school students who attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony held in Hiroshima on August 6, sent by the City of Matsumoto, recalled the day and said, “I was really impressed by the accounts of the A-bomb survivors” and “From the bottom of my heart, I felt that war must never be waged.” Japanese actor Kirin Kiki, who is acquainted with Matsumoto Mayor Akira Sugenoya, took the stage to appeal for the importance of peace.

On November 11, the participants will discuss the organization’s rules in order for Japanese members to enhance their Mayors for Peace efforts. They plan to draft a letter of request to be sent to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling for the early realization of a nuclear weapons convention.

This is the first time that the meeting of the Japanese member cities is being held in a place other than an A-bombed city. As of November 1, 2014, a total of 1,514 cities, wards, towns, and villages are members of the organization.

A-bombed tree planted in Matsumoto, site of Mayors for Peace meeting

A tree planting ceremony for an A-bombed Aogiri tree was held in Agatanomori Park in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture on November 9. The ceremony was held to commemorate the meeting of Japanese member cities of Mayors for Peace, now being held in the city. The participants, including Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, who serves as president of the organization, pledged that they will strengthen their efforts for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

About 3o people, including senior members of the City of Matsumoto and Matsumoto city council members, took part in the event. In his remarks, Matsumoto Mayor Akira Sugenoya said, “I would like to raise public awareness for the abolition of nuclear weapons, as in a chain reaction.” Mr. Matsui, the Hiroshima mayor, said, “I am grateful to the city of Matsumoto for holding the meeting here. I would like us all to wide our base of support for this issue as much as we can.”

The saplings were raised from seeds produced by A-bombed Aogiri trees located in Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. The Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, which serves as secretariat for the organization, provided them to Matsumoto.

(Originally published on November 11, 2014)

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