Hiroshima prefectural chapter of the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs requests City of Hiroshima to invite representatives from all countries and regions for Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6
Nov. 30, 2024
by Keiichi Nobira, Staff Writer
On November 29, the Hiroshima prefectural chapter of the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) requested the City of Hiroshima, which organizes the Peace Memorial Ceremony on the anniversary of the atomic bombing, to invite representatives from all countries and regions. They also called for open discussions on how to make such a request, which the city is considering, to ensure citizens’ voices are reflected.
The petition raised concerns the city had invited Israel to this year’s ceremony but excluded Russia and Belarus, without providing any explanation to its citizens. While emphasizing the premise was that representatives from all countries and regions should be invited, it urged the city not to single out or criticize the policies of specific countries or establish exclusive criterion for invitations.
Tetsuo Kaneko, 76, representative member of Gensuikin, emphasized, “Unless the city establishes a criterion that all countries and regions are invited, its decisions will become arbitrary.” Mamiko Nakatani, assistant director of the Citizens Affairs Bureau for the City of Hiroshima who met with him, said, “We will review how to make such a request to avoid any misunderstandings.”
(Originally published on November 30, 2024)
On November 29, the Hiroshima prefectural chapter of the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) requested the City of Hiroshima, which organizes the Peace Memorial Ceremony on the anniversary of the atomic bombing, to invite representatives from all countries and regions. They also called for open discussions on how to make such a request, which the city is considering, to ensure citizens’ voices are reflected.
The petition raised concerns the city had invited Israel to this year’s ceremony but excluded Russia and Belarus, without providing any explanation to its citizens. While emphasizing the premise was that representatives from all countries and regions should be invited, it urged the city not to single out or criticize the policies of specific countries or establish exclusive criterion for invitations.
Tetsuo Kaneko, 76, representative member of Gensuikin, emphasized, “Unless the city establishes a criterion that all countries and regions are invited, its decisions will become arbitrary.” Mamiko Nakatani, assistant director of the Citizens Affairs Bureau for the City of Hiroshima who met with him, said, “We will review how to make such a request to avoid any misunderstandings.”
(Originally published on November 30, 2024)
