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Hiroshima to hold A-bomb exhibitions in Tokyo during Tokyo Olympics

by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer

It was learned on January 26 that the City of Hiroshima will hold A-bomb exhibitions in Tokyo during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. The exhibition venues will be in the center of Tokyo, which is easily accessible from stadiums and the athletes’ village. Many athletes and sports fans will visit Japan during the games, which will coincide with the commemoration of the anniversaries of the atomic bombings. The city hopes to make this “peace festival” an opportunity to add momentum for the abolition of nuclear weapons, conveying the reality of the atomic bombing and the city’s wish for peace.

According to those involved in this plan, the candidate venues for the exhibitions include facilities located in central Tokyo that are easily accessible by train or subway lines from the new National Stadium. The stadium, which is located in Shinjuku Ward, will be the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field events, and soccer games. The city is also considering using other facilities to hold exhibitions in several different locations.

In past A-bomb exhibitions organized by the municipal government, exhibits included victims’ personal belongings and panels that showed the impact of radiation on human health. Survivors have also shared their experiences of the bombing. It is believed that the city government will prepare some materials that will show the humanitarian consequences of the bombing based on what happened as a result of the A-bomb attack.

The city is also formulating a program to support athletes and officials who hope to visit Hiroshima to learn about the atomic bombing. The Olympic Games will be held from July 24 to August 9, 2020. Events such as swimming and tennis will conclude before August 6, the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. The city will welcome those who wish to attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony that will mark the 75th anniversary.

In fiscal 2019, the city will hold A-bomb exhibitions in Tottori, the only prefecture where such exhibitions have never been held in Japan, and other places. The government will include the costs of the upcoming exhibitions, along with preparations for those to be held in Tokyo, in the initial budget for fiscal 2019.

(Originally published on January 27, 2019)

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