Signing a sister park agreement between Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Pearl Harbor National Memorial during the Hiroshima Summit: No contact from the U.S. side. Hiroshima Mayor explains the process
Nov. 14, 2023
At a press conference on November 13, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui explained the process of how Hiroshima City postponed the conclusion of a sister park agreement between Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which America proposed to be signed during the Group of Seven industrialized nations Summit (G7 Summit) in May. Mr. Matsui revealed he had left it to the U.S. side to coordinate the date for the realization of the agreement and added, “We did not have any contact from them even up to the last minute.”
Mayor Matsui said he had not been concerned if the conclusion of the agreement was done or not during the summit meeting held from May 19 to May 21. He also recalled, “I thought it would be fine if we could coordinate a date to sign the agreement.” The U.S side said it would make efforts to finalize the date for the agreement by May 17. However, Hiroshima City received no response even when that day came. On May 18, Hiroshima City told the U.S. side that they would postpone the conclusion of a sister park agreement.
As for the content of the agreement, he said, "I was worried about whether it would be something that could be called reconciliation and future-oriented.”
(Originally published on November 14, 2023)
Mayor Matsui said he had not been concerned if the conclusion of the agreement was done or not during the summit meeting held from May 19 to May 21. He also recalled, “I thought it would be fine if we could coordinate a date to sign the agreement.” The U.S side said it would make efforts to finalize the date for the agreement by May 17. However, Hiroshima City received no response even when that day came. On May 18, Hiroshima City told the U.S. side that they would postpone the conclusion of a sister park agreement.
As for the content of the agreement, he said, "I was worried about whether it would be something that could be called reconciliation and future-oriented.”
(Originally published on November 14, 2023)
