Prime Minister attends Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony for the first time since taking office and U.N. Secretary-General attends for the first time in 12 years
Aug. 7, 2022
by Michiko Tanaka and Yohei Yamamoto, Staff Writers
On August 6, the Peace Memorial Ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park located in the city’s Naka Ward was attended by Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a locally elected member of the Diet, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In his address, Prime Minister Kishida declared, “Japan will walk decisively forward on the path towards a world without nuclear weapons, no matter how narrow, steep, or difficult that path may be.” The Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his message to the world from the A-bombed city, saying, “There is only one solution to the nuclear threat: not to have nuclear weapons at all.”
In his address at the Peace Memorial Ceremony, which he attended for the first time since taking office, Mr. Kishida, who was elected from Hiroshima Prefecture’s District No. 1, the area that includes the A-bomb hypocenter, pointed out the use of nuclear weapons has become evident as a real issue, and stated, “From here in Hiroshima, I wish to appeal to the people of the world in the loudest voice I can muster, that the devastation of using nuclear weapons must never be repeated.” However, he made no reference to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
In contrast, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres mentioned the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons held in June, praising its adoption of an action plan as a “sign of hope.” The leader of the United Nations, who attended the ceremony for the first time in 12 years, clearly stated, “It is totally unacceptable for states in possession of nuclear weapons to admit the possibility of nuclear war.” He demanded all nuclear weapons states to commit to the “no first use” of those weapons.
After the ceremony, the two leaders met at the Peace Memorial Museum. While Prime Minister Kishida showed his willingness to play a leading role in nuclear disarmament, the Secretary-General has placed high expectations on the Prime Minister’s statement, and confirmed their cooperation saying, “Japan has a moral authority.” They intently observed the exhibits in the museum, such as the clothes worn by A-bomb survivors at the time of the atomic bombing, and presented to the museum, paper cranes they folded.
(Originally published on August 7, 2022)
On August 6, the Peace Memorial Ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park located in the city’s Naka Ward was attended by Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a locally elected member of the Diet, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In his address, Prime Minister Kishida declared, “Japan will walk decisively forward on the path towards a world without nuclear weapons, no matter how narrow, steep, or difficult that path may be.” The Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his message to the world from the A-bombed city, saying, “There is only one solution to the nuclear threat: not to have nuclear weapons at all.”
In his address at the Peace Memorial Ceremony, which he attended for the first time since taking office, Mr. Kishida, who was elected from Hiroshima Prefecture’s District No. 1, the area that includes the A-bomb hypocenter, pointed out the use of nuclear weapons has become evident as a real issue, and stated, “From here in Hiroshima, I wish to appeal to the people of the world in the loudest voice I can muster, that the devastation of using nuclear weapons must never be repeated.” However, he made no reference to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
In contrast, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres mentioned the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons held in June, praising its adoption of an action plan as a “sign of hope.” The leader of the United Nations, who attended the ceremony for the first time in 12 years, clearly stated, “It is totally unacceptable for states in possession of nuclear weapons to admit the possibility of nuclear war.” He demanded all nuclear weapons states to commit to the “no first use” of those weapons.
After the ceremony, the two leaders met at the Peace Memorial Museum. While Prime Minister Kishida showed his willingness to play a leading role in nuclear disarmament, the Secretary-General has placed high expectations on the Prime Minister’s statement, and confirmed their cooperation saying, “Japan has a moral authority.” They intently observed the exhibits in the museum, such as the clothes worn by A-bomb survivors at the time of the atomic bombing, and presented to the museum, paper cranes they folded.
(Originally published on August 7, 2022)
