Hiroshima commemorates 54th anniversary of A-bombing

Aug. 6, Kyodo - The city of Hiroshima commemorated the 54th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing Friday by calling on the world to strive for elimination of nuclear weapons in memory of those who perished in the 1945 blast which annihilated the city.

Some 50,000 people, including A-bomb victims, bereaved families, and dignitaries gathered at the Peace Memorial Park, near the hypocenter of the bombing, and prayed for those who died from the blast more than five decades ago.

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Health and Welfare Minister Sohei Miyashita, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, Hiroshima prefectural and municipal government officials, and Pakistani Ambassador to Japan Touqir Hussain were present at the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony.

Shortly after the start of the ceremony, a new list of 5,071 names of A-bomb victims who have died since Aug. 6 last year was added to the cenotaph dedicated to those who perished in the blast or as a result of the aftereffects of the bomb's radioactivity. The total number dead reached 212,116 after the addition.

The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6 1945 by the U.S. B-29 bomber Enola Gay killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of that year.

Participants in the ceremony observed a moment of silence at 8:15 a.m. -- the time the atomic bomb ''Little Boy'' exploded 580 meters above Hiroshima more than half a century ago -- while representatives of A-bomb victims and children tolled a bell of peace.

After the bell resounded through the park, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba delivered his peace declaration praising contributions made by A-bomb survivors and urging young people to learn from their achievements.

The mayor, who took office in February, paid respect to the A-bomb survivors, who ''were able to transcend the infernal pain and despair and to opt for life,'' and who effectively prevented a third use of nuclear weapons and represented a ''new world view'' through their wishes for peace.

Akiba stressed the need to possess a strong will to abolish nuclear weapons, articulating that they are ''absolute evil,'' and especially hoped that young people would share such a will.

The mayor also called upon the government ''to understand fully the crucial role'' the A-bomb survivors have played and ''to enhance their support policies.'' He also urged the government to ''place the highest priority on forging the will to abolish nuclear weapons.''

Following the declaration, some 1,500 doves symbolizing peace were released into the sky, while 300 children sang a song of peace.

Obuchi also gave a speech during the ceremony, saying that ''many difficulties lie ahead of us in seeking total elimination of nuclear weapons,'' as successive outbreaks of regional ethnic and religious conflicts have caused the global security situation top deteriorate.

Against this backdrop, Obuchi pledged that the Japanese government will work positively toward nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament and the eventual creation of a nuclear weapons-free world, saying such tasks are ''Japan's duty as the world's only country to suffer an atomic bombing.''

He said the government will follow the proposal made by the Japan-initiated Tokyo forum of international experts on nuclear disarmament, which urges the United States and Russia to reduce the number of their strategic nuclear weapons to 1,000 warheads each.

The prime minister also promised that the government will make utmost efforts to promote support policies for aging A-bomb survivors.

Before the start of the ceremony at 8 a.m., Hiroshima citizens offered flowers and sticks of incense in front of the cenotaph located at the center of the park, praying for the repose of the victims' souls. Some people arrived at the park before dawn.

Kimiko Ueki, 80, from eastern Hiroshima, survived the bombing, but she and her two children still had glass splinters from the blast in their bodies. Ueki said tragedies caused by the bombing ''must never be repeated.''

Ueki, who never fails to attend the ceremony every year, hoped that peace messages sent from Hiroshima would ''help stop armed conflicts in the world.''Kevin Finlayson, 40, a Canadian elementary school teacher who has children perform a play about a Hiroshima A-bomb victim Sadako Sasaki, said the ceremony plays an important role in spreading the concept of peace to the world.

Sadako died of leukemia at the age of 12, 10 years after she was exposed to radiation in the blast. She attempted to make 1,000 paper cranes, in the hope of realizing her wish for recovery.

''All the people in the world should visit the Peace Memorial Museum and listen to stories of hibakusha (A-bomb survivors),'' Finlayson said, emphasizing that education of future generations is the fastest way to achieve world peace.

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