Messages from Mayors for Peace: 15 Mayors from Tochigi and Gunma Prefectures
Feb. 6, 2015
1. Eiichi Sato, Mayor of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
First of all, I express my deepest condolences to the victims and my sympathies to the members of their bereaved families. Seventy years have passed since World War II. Amid the current circumstances, where over 80 percent of the people of Japan were born after the war, it is our responsibility to convey the horror of war and the preciousness of peace to future generations.
In 1996, which marked the 100th year of the founding of our city, Utsunomiya adopted a “Peace City Declaration.” Since then, we have worked hard to foster a heartfelt desire for peace in our citizens by pursuing such activities as sending junior high school students to Hiroshima’s annual Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6 and holding Gatherings for Peace. The city and our citizens will continue sending out messages to help realize a peaceful world without nuclear weapons.
2. Toshio Okubo, Mayor of Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture
In 1992, the city of Oyama adopted a “Peace City Declaration.” Since that time we have pursued a variety of efforts, including holding a Peace Exhibition each year with panels showing photos of the atomic bombing and peace posters. Starting in 1996, the city has also sent students from our junior high schools to Hiroshima for the Peace Memorial Ceremony. Through these activities, Oyama seeks to nurture children who can hand down to future generations the ideas and thoughts for peace of the people of the A-bombed cities without forgetting the tragic atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
3. Shin Sato, Mayor of Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture
This year marks the 70th anniversary since the end of World War II. Japan, the only nation in the world to have experienced atomic bombings, holds an important role.
In 1995, which marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, the city of Kanuma adopted a “Peace City Declaration.” With this declaration the city expressed its determination to maintain the nation’s three non-nuclear principles and work hard to help realize a lasting peace in the world.
Every year the city sends 20 third-year junior high school students to the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima to recognize the horror of war and the preciousness of peace so they will then share this awareness with many others. Through a variety of activities, we would like to hand down a lasting peace to the generations to come.
4. Toshimi Suzuki, Mayor of Tochigi City
It is vital that we teach children, the builders of the future, about the horror of war and the preciousness of peace, so the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will not be repeated.
The city of Tochigi has been making efforts to nurture an awareness of peace among our citizens by pursuing such activities as holding panel exhibitions about the atomic bombings, organizing gatherings to listen to the experiences of war, and sending junior high school students to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.
In this year, which marks the 7oth anniversary of the atomic bombings, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the victims of the A-bomb attacks and pledge that I will make every effort--though my power may be small--to help abolish nuclear weapons and bring about a world in which people can live in peace and security.
5. Fumio Saito, Mayor of Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
In the “Nikko City Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” that the city of Nikko issued in 2007, this phrase appears: “We desire a peaceful and nuclear-free world.” These words represent the desire of the citizens of Nikko, who wish for lasting peace in the world by abolishing the earth’s nuclear arms.
To this end, we will continue conveying the horror of nuclear weapons and the tragedy of war in order to help realize the abolition of nuclear arms and peace in the world as soon as possible.
6. Hiroko Mase, Mayor of Nogi Town, Tochigi Prefecture
In the year which marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, I believe it is important to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons. As the only nation in the world to have experienced the consequences of atomic bombs, we must show the strong desire to realize this aim.
Along with four junior high school students from our town, I attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima on August 6, 2014. Feeling anew the horror of war and the preciousness of peace, I was determined that we must convey the horror of the atomic bombings 70 years ago to future generations.
Finally, I express my pledge not to see another war be waged by offering my heartfelt sympathy to those who still suffer from the aftereffects of the atomic bombings.
7. Hideko Moteki, Mayor of Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture
Although 70 years have passed, we must never forget the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
There are still many people who suffer from the aftereffects of the atomic bombings. With the belief that we can eventually create a peaceful world without nuclear weapons or war, the city of Annaka, which has adopted a nuclear-free and peace declaration, stands with our citizens to hand down to the future the thoughts and cries of the people who perished in the bomb’s blazing heat of over 3,000 degrees.
8. Toyofumi Kameyama, Mayor of Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture
In 1985, the city of Kiryu issued a nuclear-free peace city declaration with the resolution that the city opposes nuclear weapons held by any nation and calls for the immediate abolition of all nuclear weapons, while making efforts for the peace of humanity by maintaining the nation’s three non-nuclear principles.
In the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings and the end of World War II, I would like to join hands with others so as not to repeat the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and help realize the abolition of nuclear weapons and a lasting peace in the world through such activities as relating the horror of war. These are actions for the well-being of everyone, including our children, the builders of the future.
9. Sadaji Akutsu, Mayor of Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture
In September 2006, the city of Shibukawa adopted the “Nuclear Weapon Abolition Peace City Declaration.” Since then the city, with hopes for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a lasting peace in the world, has pursued a variety of projects to enhance the awareness of peace of our citizens.
Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombings. It is our responsibility to convey the horror of war and the preciousness of peace to future generations.
To fulfill our obligation to create a peaceful world, I would like to continue appealing for peace in cooperation with other municipalities.
10. Kenji Tomioka, Mayor of Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The “Nuclear Weapon Abolition Peace City Declaration” adopted by the city of Takasaki in 1986 includes the phrase: “The abolition of nuclear weapons is the strong desire of the citizens of Takasaki.” As the people of Japan, the nation which suffered the atomic bombings and knows the horror of nuclear weapons directly, we must continue conveying the horror of war and the preciousness of peace without forgetting the experiences of World War II and the atomic bombings.
11. Kazuo Yasuraoka, Mayor of Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture
This year marks the 7oth anniversary of the atomic bombings which devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in an instant. The people of Japan, who have suffered one of the most painful and tragic experiences in human history, must never forget that nightmarish reality, despite the passage of time. Meanwhile, we must convey to children, who will build the future, the horror of nuclear weapons and war and the preciousness of peace.
Wishing for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a lasting peace, the city of Tatebayashi adopted a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 1988. With the citizens of Tatebayashi, I am determined to continue making efforts to help realize a peaceful, non-nuclear future through peace activities.
12. Toshiaki Arai, Mayor of Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture
The city of Fujioka adopted a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 1985 with the aim of making efforts to enrich our peaceful city and preserve a caring community without war. Since that time we have earnestly pursued a variety of activities to promote peace.
In this milestone year of the 7oth anniversary of the atomic bombings and the end of World War II, I renew my determination to make efforts to help realize a lasting peace for our children, the builders of future generations.
13. Masakazu Kaneko, Mayor of Oura Town, Gunma Prefecture
Our peace today is built on the sacrifices of many people in World War II. Most of the people in Japan now were born after the war. Japan, the only nation to have experienced atomic bombings, the first time such attacks took place in human history, must appeal for the preciousness of peace to the international community and hand this down to the generations to come.
But contrary to the desire for peace, even to this day nuclear development programs are being advanced and wars are being waged in various parts of the world, producing many more victims. I sincerely hope that a world without nuclear weapons and war will be realized as quickly as possible.
14. Tadayuki Ohya, Mayor of Chiyoda Town, Gunma Prefecture
It is indeed our obligation to convey to the next generation the horror of war and the preciousness of peace, and commit to help building a lasting peace in the world in these peaceful and affluent times.
As Japan is the only country in the world that has experienced atomic bombings, it bears the mission of showing leadership by standing at the forefront of international opinion for the abolition of nuclear weapons. I am determined to make earnest efforts to help build peace in the world by joining hands with other nations in order to eliminate nuclear weapons from this earth.
15. Hisashi Onda, Mayor of Meiwa Town, Gunma Prefecture
War and conflict must not be waged. They lead only to the annihilation of this beautiful planet with its abundant nature, which took so many years to prosper. To this end, Japan, which experienced the atomic bombings, must make strong appeals.
Currently, the town of Meiwa is encouraging our children to learn about the tragedy of war and the preciousness of peace and relate these ideas to the generations to come through a program which sends children to such places as Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa.
Let us realize a peaceful world without nuclear weapons and war, prompted by the efforts of Japan, the only nation to have suffered nuclear attack.
First of all, I express my deepest condolences to the victims and my sympathies to the members of their bereaved families. Seventy years have passed since World War II. Amid the current circumstances, where over 80 percent of the people of Japan were born after the war, it is our responsibility to convey the horror of war and the preciousness of peace to future generations.
In 1996, which marked the 100th year of the founding of our city, Utsunomiya adopted a “Peace City Declaration.” Since then, we have worked hard to foster a heartfelt desire for peace in our citizens by pursuing such activities as sending junior high school students to Hiroshima’s annual Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6 and holding Gatherings for Peace. The city and our citizens will continue sending out messages to help realize a peaceful world without nuclear weapons.
2. Toshio Okubo, Mayor of Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture
In 1992, the city of Oyama adopted a “Peace City Declaration.” Since that time we have pursued a variety of efforts, including holding a Peace Exhibition each year with panels showing photos of the atomic bombing and peace posters. Starting in 1996, the city has also sent students from our junior high schools to Hiroshima for the Peace Memorial Ceremony. Through these activities, Oyama seeks to nurture children who can hand down to future generations the ideas and thoughts for peace of the people of the A-bombed cities without forgetting the tragic atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
3. Shin Sato, Mayor of Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture
This year marks the 70th anniversary since the end of World War II. Japan, the only nation in the world to have experienced atomic bombings, holds an important role.
In 1995, which marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, the city of Kanuma adopted a “Peace City Declaration.” With this declaration the city expressed its determination to maintain the nation’s three non-nuclear principles and work hard to help realize a lasting peace in the world.
Every year the city sends 20 third-year junior high school students to the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima to recognize the horror of war and the preciousness of peace so they will then share this awareness with many others. Through a variety of activities, we would like to hand down a lasting peace to the generations to come.
4. Toshimi Suzuki, Mayor of Tochigi City
It is vital that we teach children, the builders of the future, about the horror of war and the preciousness of peace, so the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will not be repeated.
The city of Tochigi has been making efforts to nurture an awareness of peace among our citizens by pursuing such activities as holding panel exhibitions about the atomic bombings, organizing gatherings to listen to the experiences of war, and sending junior high school students to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.
In this year, which marks the 7oth anniversary of the atomic bombings, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the victims of the A-bomb attacks and pledge that I will make every effort--though my power may be small--to help abolish nuclear weapons and bring about a world in which people can live in peace and security.
5. Fumio Saito, Mayor of Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
In the “Nikko City Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” that the city of Nikko issued in 2007, this phrase appears: “We desire a peaceful and nuclear-free world.” These words represent the desire of the citizens of Nikko, who wish for lasting peace in the world by abolishing the earth’s nuclear arms.
To this end, we will continue conveying the horror of nuclear weapons and the tragedy of war in order to help realize the abolition of nuclear arms and peace in the world as soon as possible.
6. Hiroko Mase, Mayor of Nogi Town, Tochigi Prefecture
In the year which marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings, I believe it is important to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons. As the only nation in the world to have experienced the consequences of atomic bombs, we must show the strong desire to realize this aim.
Along with four junior high school students from our town, I attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima on August 6, 2014. Feeling anew the horror of war and the preciousness of peace, I was determined that we must convey the horror of the atomic bombings 70 years ago to future generations.
Finally, I express my pledge not to see another war be waged by offering my heartfelt sympathy to those who still suffer from the aftereffects of the atomic bombings.
7. Hideko Moteki, Mayor of Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture
Although 70 years have passed, we must never forget the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
There are still many people who suffer from the aftereffects of the atomic bombings. With the belief that we can eventually create a peaceful world without nuclear weapons or war, the city of Annaka, which has adopted a nuclear-free and peace declaration, stands with our citizens to hand down to the future the thoughts and cries of the people who perished in the bomb’s blazing heat of over 3,000 degrees.
8. Toyofumi Kameyama, Mayor of Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture
In 1985, the city of Kiryu issued a nuclear-free peace city declaration with the resolution that the city opposes nuclear weapons held by any nation and calls for the immediate abolition of all nuclear weapons, while making efforts for the peace of humanity by maintaining the nation’s three non-nuclear principles.
In the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings and the end of World War II, I would like to join hands with others so as not to repeat the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and help realize the abolition of nuclear weapons and a lasting peace in the world through such activities as relating the horror of war. These are actions for the well-being of everyone, including our children, the builders of the future.
9. Sadaji Akutsu, Mayor of Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture
In September 2006, the city of Shibukawa adopted the “Nuclear Weapon Abolition Peace City Declaration.” Since then the city, with hopes for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a lasting peace in the world, has pursued a variety of projects to enhance the awareness of peace of our citizens.
Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombings. It is our responsibility to convey the horror of war and the preciousness of peace to future generations.
To fulfill our obligation to create a peaceful world, I would like to continue appealing for peace in cooperation with other municipalities.
10. Kenji Tomioka, Mayor of Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Seventy years have passed since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The “Nuclear Weapon Abolition Peace City Declaration” adopted by the city of Takasaki in 1986 includes the phrase: “The abolition of nuclear weapons is the strong desire of the citizens of Takasaki.” As the people of Japan, the nation which suffered the atomic bombings and knows the horror of nuclear weapons directly, we must continue conveying the horror of war and the preciousness of peace without forgetting the experiences of World War II and the atomic bombings.
11. Kazuo Yasuraoka, Mayor of Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture
This year marks the 7oth anniversary of the atomic bombings which devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in an instant. The people of Japan, who have suffered one of the most painful and tragic experiences in human history, must never forget that nightmarish reality, despite the passage of time. Meanwhile, we must convey to children, who will build the future, the horror of nuclear weapons and war and the preciousness of peace.
Wishing for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a lasting peace, the city of Tatebayashi adopted a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 1988. With the citizens of Tatebayashi, I am determined to continue making efforts to help realize a peaceful, non-nuclear future through peace activities.
12. Toshiaki Arai, Mayor of Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture
The city of Fujioka adopted a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration” in 1985 with the aim of making efforts to enrich our peaceful city and preserve a caring community without war. Since that time we have earnestly pursued a variety of activities to promote peace.
In this milestone year of the 7oth anniversary of the atomic bombings and the end of World War II, I renew my determination to make efforts to help realize a lasting peace for our children, the builders of future generations.
13. Masakazu Kaneko, Mayor of Oura Town, Gunma Prefecture
Our peace today is built on the sacrifices of many people in World War II. Most of the people in Japan now were born after the war. Japan, the only nation to have experienced atomic bombings, the first time such attacks took place in human history, must appeal for the preciousness of peace to the international community and hand this down to the generations to come.
But contrary to the desire for peace, even to this day nuclear development programs are being advanced and wars are being waged in various parts of the world, producing many more victims. I sincerely hope that a world without nuclear weapons and war will be realized as quickly as possible.
14. Tadayuki Ohya, Mayor of Chiyoda Town, Gunma Prefecture
It is indeed our obligation to convey to the next generation the horror of war and the preciousness of peace, and commit to help building a lasting peace in the world in these peaceful and affluent times.
As Japan is the only country in the world that has experienced atomic bombings, it bears the mission of showing leadership by standing at the forefront of international opinion for the abolition of nuclear weapons. I am determined to make earnest efforts to help build peace in the world by joining hands with other nations in order to eliminate nuclear weapons from this earth.
15. Hisashi Onda, Mayor of Meiwa Town, Gunma Prefecture
War and conflict must not be waged. They lead only to the annihilation of this beautiful planet with its abundant nature, which took so many years to prosper. To this end, Japan, which experienced the atomic bombings, must make strong appeals.
Currently, the town of Meiwa is encouraging our children to learn about the tragedy of war and the preciousness of peace and relate these ideas to the generations to come through a program which sends children to such places as Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa.
Let us realize a peaceful world without nuclear weapons and war, prompted by the efforts of Japan, the only nation to have suffered nuclear attack.
