Ceremony held in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward with award ceremony watched at public viewing: “Let’s work together to preserve peace”
Dec. 11, 2024
by Keiichi Nobira and Karen Sekiya, Staff Writers
A ceremony to celebrate the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) was held on December 10 at the Peace Memorial Museum in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Citizens and atomic bomb survivors attended the ceremony and watched the award ceremony at the public viewing, strengthening the desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons and world peace.
Approximately 300 people joined the ceremony, held in the memorial hall on the first basement level of the Peace Memorial Museum’s East Building. When Terumi Tanaka, 92, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, and other prize winners who will receive the medal were shown on the screen, applause erupted from the audience. Afterward, they listened to their speeches and shared the joy of receiving the award.
Speaking on behalf of the A-bomb survivors, Chieko Kiriake, 95, a resident of Asaminami Ward, said, “Even though the power of one person is weak, if we gather, we can create a great force. Let’s join hands and work together, starting in our daily lives in our own community, to preserve peace.” Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, who hosted the ceremony together with the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, said strongly, “I hope the efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting world peace will spread throughout the world.”
Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki commented, “The winning of the prize will keep the fire of the ‘nuclear taboo’ burning and provide a powerful boost to efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons in the international community.”
(Originally published on December 11, 2024)
A ceremony to celebrate the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) was held on December 10 at the Peace Memorial Museum in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Citizens and atomic bomb survivors attended the ceremony and watched the award ceremony at the public viewing, strengthening the desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons and world peace.
Approximately 300 people joined the ceremony, held in the memorial hall on the first basement level of the Peace Memorial Museum’s East Building. When Terumi Tanaka, 92, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, and other prize winners who will receive the medal were shown on the screen, applause erupted from the audience. Afterward, they listened to their speeches and shared the joy of receiving the award.
Speaking on behalf of the A-bomb survivors, Chieko Kiriake, 95, a resident of Asaminami Ward, said, “Even though the power of one person is weak, if we gather, we can create a great force. Let’s join hands and work together, starting in our daily lives in our own community, to preserve peace.” Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, who hosted the ceremony together with the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, said strongly, “I hope the efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting world peace will spread throughout the world.”
Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki commented, “The winning of the prize will keep the fire of the ‘nuclear taboo’ burning and provide a powerful boost to efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons in the international community.”
(Originally published on December 11, 2024)
