Work begins to set up large tents for the Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6
Jul. 29, 2015
by Hisashi Kawate, Staff Writer
On July 21, the City of Hiroshima began setting up large tents in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in Naka Ward, for the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony to be held on August 6, the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The work began a week earlier than in the past, because starting this year, 52 tents are being used to provide cover from the summer sun for almost all the seating at the ceremony.
About 20 workers hired by the city lifted the large tents with ten-meter tops by means of a crane placed on the approach to the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, then set them up on the lawn.
Until last year, the city had used 32 tents, placed mainly over seats toward the rear, which were in front of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. This area could be accessed by heavy machinery, which was brought onto the walkways to the east and west. Last fiscal year, the approach to the cenotaph was renovated for the first time in 33 years, at a cost of 24 million yen. It was strengthened so that the ground could withstand the weight of heavy machinery used to set up the large tents, making it possible to provide shelter for over 9,500 of the 11,000 seats. Preparations for the ceremony, including setting out tables for the offerings of flowers, will be completed by August 5.
Shuko Kondo, 47, an office worker visiting Hiroshima from the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, said, “I’d like to attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony for the first time. I hope it will provide an opportunity to consider ways to foster peace, including how to protect Japan without nuclear weapons.”
(Originally published on July 22, 2015)
On July 21, the City of Hiroshima began setting up large tents in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in Naka Ward, for the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony to be held on August 6, the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The work began a week earlier than in the past, because starting this year, 52 tents are being used to provide cover from the summer sun for almost all the seating at the ceremony.
About 20 workers hired by the city lifted the large tents with ten-meter tops by means of a crane placed on the approach to the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, then set them up on the lawn.
Until last year, the city had used 32 tents, placed mainly over seats toward the rear, which were in front of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. This area could be accessed by heavy machinery, which was brought onto the walkways to the east and west. Last fiscal year, the approach to the cenotaph was renovated for the first time in 33 years, at a cost of 24 million yen. It was strengthened so that the ground could withstand the weight of heavy machinery used to set up the large tents, making it possible to provide shelter for over 9,500 of the 11,000 seats. Preparations for the ceremony, including setting out tables for the offerings of flowers, will be completed by August 5.
Shuko Kondo, 47, an office worker visiting Hiroshima from the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, said, “I’d like to attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony for the first time. I hope it will provide an opportunity to consider ways to foster peace, including how to protect Japan without nuclear weapons.”
(Originally published on July 22, 2015)
