News

by Keiichi Nobira and Chinatsu Mukai, Staff Writers

Starting this year, restrictions on entry into Peace Memorial Park (in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward) for the Hiroshima City government-organized Peace Memorial Ceremony are to be tightened. The city decided to adopt the restrictions with the objective of “strengthening security measures,” after an incident last year caused by participants in a demonstration. While some have shown conditional acceptance of the city’s restrictions aimed at a solemn ceremony, the decision is certain to affect memorial activities scheduled for that day in the park, making it necessary for the city to explain its decision in more detail.

The city will implement restrictions on entry to the entirety of the Peace Memorial Park area from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on August 6. The restrictions will prohibit visitors from bringing items into the area that could disrupt the holding of the ceremony, such as loudspeakers, placards, fliers, flags, and banners. Every year, a memorial service is held in front of the A-bomb Dome. Some surviving family members and citizens pay tribute to victims in the vicinity of the Children’s Peace Monument and the Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound inside the park. However, during the restricted hours this year, such individuals will need to have their belongings inspected at six entry points before they enter the park area.

Toshiyuki Mimaki, chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), expressed his understanding of the city’s measures. “On August 6, at least, a day on which many people died, my hope is that the ceremony can be conducted in solemnity.” He added, “It is disappointing that the situation cannot be handled without restrictions being put in place.” Kunihiko Sakuma, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, also responded to the city’s announcement. “I don’t want the city to escalate things, but I wonder whether the issue can be resolved with restrictions alone,” said Mr. Sakuma.

In Peace Memorial Ceremonies held over the past several years, civic groups have come into conflict involving demonstrations held near the A-bomb Dome. Last year, an incident involving five people that had joined a demonstration organized by the executive committee of a citizens group called the August 6 Hiroshima Grand Action led to a criminal case filed for the physical assault of a city employee.

Katsuya Ishikawa, representative of the Association of Hiroshima Citizens for a Tranquil August 6, welcomed the tightened restrictions. “Based on Hiroshima City’s Peace Promotion Basic Ordinance, we hope the ceremony can be held in solemnity, befitting an event set aside for comforting the souls of A-bomb victims,” said Mr. Ishikawa. On the other hand, Ryo Miyahara, secretary general of the association’s executive committee, criticized the city, saying, “The restrictions will suppress people from making their voices heard and place pressure on anti-war and anti-nuclear campaigns.” He expressed his intent to continue his group’s demonstrations and called on the city to withdraw the restrictions.

The city has held repeated discussions with Hiroshima Prefectural Police about measures to take at the ceremony. However, Nobuhiro Yamada, an attorney with the Hiroshima Bar Association raised concerns. “It doesn’t make any sense to apply restrictions on entry to a public space where anyone is able to look at the Cenotaph and the Dome and offer their prayers. I believe the city’s action will limit civic activities and restrict freedom of expression.”

The city’s Citizen Activities Promotion Division explained, “We do not have any intent to suppress the speech of any specific group. We want people to understand that the aim of the restrictions is to prevent chaos from happening during the ceremony.” The prefectural police’s Security Division announced that, “We will collaborate with the city to adopt safe security measures that ensure the safety of ceremony participants and leading figures and promote smooth ceremony proceedings.”

(Originally published on May 8, 2024)