“No problem,” says Mayor of Hiroshima to shelving issue over sister park agreement
Oct. 28, 2023
by Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writer
On October 27, Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima, answered questions from the media at a press conference regarding the city’s executive officer’s response during the questions sessions of the city council over the sister park agreement between Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Pearl Harbor National Memorial, in which the officer said discussions about U.S. responsibility for the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima were shelved. Mr. Matsui asserted the executive officer meant to refer to the fact that the U.S. responsibility was not discussed in the process of coordinating the conclusion of agreement with the United States, and stated, “It is quite unthinkable that his remarks are being questioned, if you understand his intention.”
Mr. Matsui said, “The officer used the word ‘shelved’ to explain that no discussions had taken place (about responsibility for dropping the atomic bomb),” and emphasized, “He just wanted to explain both parties had not discussed responsibility while the agreement was being coordinated. Nothing more and nothing less.” Regarding the timing of questioning of U.S. responsibility, he mentioned that it is an issue to be addressed during future-oriented efforts and in the spirit of reconciliation.
In response to the general questions session of the city council in September, Shinichiro Murakami, director general of the Citizens Affairs Bureau for the City of Hiroshima, replied, “The agreement was concluded aiming at first increasing momentum within civil society to ensure nuclear weapons would never be used again, setting aside at least for now discussions on the responsibility of the United States for dropping the atomic bomb.”
In the press conference, Mr. Matsui also mentioned the reconstruction council meeting that will discuss the continuation or abolition of the JR Geibi Line service between Bingo-Shobara (in Shobara City) and Bitchu-Kojiro (in Niimi City), and expressed he would like to attend the meeting from the perspective of maintaining the service for residents, if there is a chance. At this time, there are no specific requests for his attendance.
(Originally published on October 28, 2023)
On October 27, Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima, answered questions from the media at a press conference regarding the city’s executive officer’s response during the questions sessions of the city council over the sister park agreement between Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Pearl Harbor National Memorial, in which the officer said discussions about U.S. responsibility for the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima were shelved. Mr. Matsui asserted the executive officer meant to refer to the fact that the U.S. responsibility was not discussed in the process of coordinating the conclusion of agreement with the United States, and stated, “It is quite unthinkable that his remarks are being questioned, if you understand his intention.”
Mr. Matsui said, “The officer used the word ‘shelved’ to explain that no discussions had taken place (about responsibility for dropping the atomic bomb),” and emphasized, “He just wanted to explain both parties had not discussed responsibility while the agreement was being coordinated. Nothing more and nothing less.” Regarding the timing of questioning of U.S. responsibility, he mentioned that it is an issue to be addressed during future-oriented efforts and in the spirit of reconciliation.
In response to the general questions session of the city council in September, Shinichiro Murakami, director general of the Citizens Affairs Bureau for the City of Hiroshima, replied, “The agreement was concluded aiming at first increasing momentum within civil society to ensure nuclear weapons would never be used again, setting aside at least for now discussions on the responsibility of the United States for dropping the atomic bomb.”
In the press conference, Mr. Matsui also mentioned the reconstruction council meeting that will discuss the continuation or abolition of the JR Geibi Line service between Bingo-Shobara (in Shobara City) and Bitchu-Kojiro (in Niimi City), and expressed he would like to attend the meeting from the perspective of maintaining the service for residents, if there is a chance. At this time, there are no specific requests for his attendance.
(Originally published on October 28, 2023)
