Symbols of Peace

Monuments show wish to protect life

The Children's Peace Monument was unveiled on May 5, 1958. The inspiration for the monument was Sadako Sasaki, a girl who died in October 1955 at the age of 12, a victim of leukemia induced by the atomic bomb's radiation. Sadako's friends, including Tomiko Kawano, now 68, spurred efforts to produce the monument, such as the fundraising campaign.

Ms. Kawano, feeling regret that she wasn't able to keep her promise to Sadako to visit the hospital every day, joined the undertaking to erect the statue. She told us, "Sadako wanted to live longer, but she wasn't given the chance. I want the children of today to think about those who want to live but aren't able to." (Mako Sakamoto, 13; photo by Ms. Sakamoto, too)

The Himeyuri Monument was established in memory of the female high school students and teachers who formed a nursing unit for the Battle of Okinawa during World War II.

The Himeyuri students consisted of female students, aged 15 to 19, from two high schools in Okinawa. A total of 222 students and 18 teachers were ordered to prepare for the battle with American forces when they landed on the shores of Okinawa. They mainly worked at an army hospital and 136 of them died.

The Himeyuri Monument consists of two markers, one established in 1946 and the other built in 1957. Both markers stand in front of Himeyuri Peace Museum. (Shiori Kusuo, 17)

The "Hope" statue was unveiled in March 1982 in front of the Koto Ward office in Tokyo as a memorial to the Great Tokyo Air Raid in which 100,000 people were killed.

On the plaque is written: "We hope that mothers may raise their children with loving care for long, happy days and that they may live in peace after the children have grown." Yoshiko Hashimoto, 88, who helped to establish the monument, said, "I hope that people will learn the horrors of war and make efforts so that war will not occur again." (Moeko Takaki, 15)

This statue stands on the rooftop of the Nagasaki Peace Museum. It was unveiled on March 31, 1996, for the opening of the museum.

The inspiration for the statue were two girls who died as a result of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and their bodies, wearing kimonos, were cremated ten days after the blast. Hiroshi Matsuzoe, 79, happened to witness this cremation and drew a picture of it 29 years later. The picture then led to the girls'families being found. A group to erect a statue of the two girls was formed and junior high school students helped with fundraising efforts to produce the monument. (Shiori Kosaka, 14)

The monument "Children of the Earth" was created in 1989 to express the vigor and joy of youth, beyond nationality or ethnicity.

Seven young people came together from seven countries, including Brazil, Japan, Thailand, and Italy. Using their imaginations, each of them created a round design in relief. One relief shows a woman bowing in the rain and sunshine, another is a bird of peace, and the figure of a man is depicted in yet another. Since 1989, when the monument was completed, "The Children of the Earth Prize" has been awarded to groups making efforts for children in need. (Shotaro Takata, 16)

The Pillar of Peace is found in Gulu, a town in the heart of Acholiland, which is in northern Uganda. A violent civil war has raged in this area for a long time and Acholi children have been forced into the fighting.

The statue was unveiled in July 2009 as a symbol of reconstruction. A girl stands with broken guns at her feet and a boy reads a textbook that sits atop a tall pile of books. The broken guns suggest the hope that war will not occur again, while the books indicate the importance of education and knowledge. (Shiori Kosaka, 14)

This monument stands on Kham Thien Street near downtown Hanoi. It features an impressive statue of a mother holding her dead baby with a look of resolve on her face.

The area was bombed heavily by the United States on the night of December 26, 1972 in the midst of the Vietnam War. More than 500 people were killed or injured and hundreds of homes were burned and destroyed. On the monument is a plaque with a message expressing anger over the air raid.

Each year, on December 26, residents say their prayers. (Mako Sakamoto, 13)

Hector Pieterson was a South African boy who was killed at the age of 13. He was shot by a police officer during an uprising in Soweto on June 16, 1976 which finally brought an end to the system of apartheid in that nation. In his death, Hector Pieterson became a symbol of the struggle against apartheid.

The monument bears the inscription: "In memory of Hector Pieterson and all other young heroes and heroines of our struggle who laid down their lives for freedom, peace, and democracy." The image of Hector Pieterson is found on the monument, too. The day of June 16 is now a national holiday in South Africa, "Youth Day." (Yuji Iguchi, 13)

The Children's War Victims Monument is dedicated to the 82 children from the city of Lidice who were murdered by the Nazis in 1942 during World War II.

Among the roughly 500 villagers, all the men were killed. The survivors numbered only 143 women and 17 children. The Nazis razed the village to the ground and nothing but its memory remained.

In 1969, a woman who was a sculptor heard the story of Lidice and began pursuing the idea of constructing a monument. The woman died in 1989, but her husband took over the work and the monument was completed in the year 2000. (Saaya Teranishi, 13)

This statue stands in Lyndale Park in Minneapolis. It is dedicated to Sadako Sasaki, a victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and was completed in 2006. The image of the statue itself shows how to fold a paper crane.

Origami paper is offered around the statue and a plaque explains how to make a paper crane. Words of peace in 23 languages are engraved on stones along the walkway. Every year on August 6 a memorial ceremony is held at the monument and the Peace Declaration from the mayor of Hiroshima is read out. (Shotaro Takata, 16)

In 1970, the Hiroshima A-bombed Teachers' Association decided to build a monument to mark the 25th anniversary of the atomic bombing. It was unveiled on August 4, 1971.

The statue depicts a woman, a teacher, holding a student who was killed by the atomic bomb. It was designed so that her gaze is in line with the A-bomb Dome.

A registry for the monument contains the names of 885 students and 146 teachers. Every year on August 4, about 900 students from elementary schools and junior high schools in Hiroshima take part in a memorial service at this monument. (Yuumi Kimura, 14)

This monument was established in 1951 on the grounds of Shiroyama Elementary School in Nagasaki. The statue symbolizes a child's wish for peace. The inspiration for the statue is said to be a child who lost his parents to the atomic bomb.

The school is located about 500 meters from the hypocenter. More than 1400 students and teachers were killed there. On the 9th of every month, the school holds a memorial service for peace. This ceremony first began on August 9, 1951 and marked its 700th service on November 2009. (Shiori Kosaka, 14)

This sculpture stands in a square in front of the city hall in Narvik, Norway. It was unveiled on August 6, 2006. It depicts a sleeping baby and the engraved words "Peace is a promise of future." Nearby is an A-bombed slab which was a gift from the city of Hiroshima. On the base of this stone is the message: "This stone comes from the hypocenter of Hiroshima. Never repeat Hiroshima. Never repeat Nagasaki." The sculpture is part of Narvik's peace efforts in aspiring to be a city of peace. During World War II, Narvik was bombed heavily by German forces. (Shiori Kusuo, 17)

(Photo is courtesy of Mr. Hakon Anton Fageras)