Hiroshima Summit, May 19-21: Holding session on Miyajima Island, taking photos against backdrop of O-Tori Gate being considered by Japanese government
Jan. 20, 2023
by Koji Higuchi, Staff Writer
It was learned on January 19 the Japanese government is planning to hold a session on Miyajima Island during the summit meeting of The Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations to be held in the city of Hiroshima between May 19 and 21. Miyajima Island in the city of Hatsukaichi is a World Heritage site. The local governments see the visit by the G7 leaders as a good opportunity to convey to the world the appeal of Miyajima, one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. Responding to the local governments’ request, the central government is considering including a session on Miyajima in the schedule.
According to several central government officials, the plan is to have the G7 leaders visit Miyajima between sessions held at the main venue, the Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima in the city’s Minami Ward, and hold a session on the island. The theme of the session will be decided in the future.
Along with the session, the government is planning to have the leaders visit Itsukushima Shrine. The restoration of the O-torii Gate of the shrine was completed at the end of last year, and they will take photos against the backdrop of the imposing vermillion gate.
The leaders will travel by sea from the Grand Prince Hotel or by helicopter. To resolve security and other issues, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been making on-site inspections of Miyajima since last year. This month, they checked the route the leaders will take on the island.
During the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Hiroshima in 2016, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, then Foreign Minister, visited Miyajima with other leaders. The governments of Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City and Hatsukaichi City are hoping the leaders will visit the island again this year. During the 2016 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Yuko Kishida, wife of Mr. Kishida, guided wives of foreign ministers from those nations to Itsukushima Shrine. The central government is exploring the possibility of holding a meeting of the leaders’ wives on Miyajima Island.
(Originally published on January 20, 2023)
It was learned on January 19 the Japanese government is planning to hold a session on Miyajima Island during the summit meeting of The Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations to be held in the city of Hiroshima between May 19 and 21. Miyajima Island in the city of Hatsukaichi is a World Heritage site. The local governments see the visit by the G7 leaders as a good opportunity to convey to the world the appeal of Miyajima, one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. Responding to the local governments’ request, the central government is considering including a session on Miyajima in the schedule.
According to several central government officials, the plan is to have the G7 leaders visit Miyajima between sessions held at the main venue, the Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima in the city’s Minami Ward, and hold a session on the island. The theme of the session will be decided in the future.
Along with the session, the government is planning to have the leaders visit Itsukushima Shrine. The restoration of the O-torii Gate of the shrine was completed at the end of last year, and they will take photos against the backdrop of the imposing vermillion gate.
The leaders will travel by sea from the Grand Prince Hotel or by helicopter. To resolve security and other issues, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been making on-site inspections of Miyajima since last year. This month, they checked the route the leaders will take on the island.
During the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Hiroshima in 2016, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, then Foreign Minister, visited Miyajima with other leaders. The governments of Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City and Hatsukaichi City are hoping the leaders will visit the island again this year. During the 2016 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Yuko Kishida, wife of Mr. Kishida, guided wives of foreign ministers from those nations to Itsukushima Shrine. The central government is exploring the possibility of holding a meeting of the leaders’ wives on Miyajima Island.
(Originally published on January 20, 2023)
