Italian President meets with A-bomb survivors and lays flowers at Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims
Mar. 9, 2025
by Masaomi Kanda, Staff Writer
On March 8, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is currently visiting Japan, visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and laid flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims located in the city’s Naka Ward. He also spoke with Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82, co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), which won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
After laying flowers at the cenotaph, Mr. Mattarella toured the Peace Memorial Museum. He met with A-bomb survivors at the Orizuru Tower building, a commercial facility (located in Naka Ward). Listening to three A-bomb survivors, including Mr. Mimaki, Mr. Mattarella emphasized the horror of the A-bombing is best conveyed through their own words and that it is essential to pass these words down to future generations. He also said nuclear weapons should never be used again.
After the meeting, Mr. Mimaki expressed his hopes, saying, “I felt we share the same idea of working toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. I hope he’ll do his best.”
This is the president’s first visit to Japan, and he has met with the Emperor and Empress of Japan and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba so far. According to the Hiroshima Prefectural government, the Italian side requested a meeting with A-bomb survivors. The president will remain in Japan through March 9.
(Originally published on March 9, 2025)
On March 8, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is currently visiting Japan, visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and laid flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims located in the city’s Naka Ward. He also spoke with Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82, co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), which won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
After laying flowers at the cenotaph, Mr. Mattarella toured the Peace Memorial Museum. He met with A-bomb survivors at the Orizuru Tower building, a commercial facility (located in Naka Ward). Listening to three A-bomb survivors, including Mr. Mimaki, Mr. Mattarella emphasized the horror of the A-bombing is best conveyed through their own words and that it is essential to pass these words down to future generations. He also said nuclear weapons should never be used again.
After the meeting, Mr. Mimaki expressed his hopes, saying, “I felt we share the same idea of working toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. I hope he’ll do his best.”
This is the president’s first visit to Japan, and he has met with the Emperor and Empress of Japan and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba so far. According to the Hiroshima Prefectural government, the Italian side requested a meeting with A-bomb survivors. The president will remain in Japan through March 9.
(Originally published on March 9, 2025)
