Hiroshima City again restricts entry to Peace Memorial Park; improves guidance for A-bomb survivors and elderly; quarrel over removal order in front of A-bomb Dome
Aug. 7, 2025
by Hajime Niiyama and Yu Yamada, Staff Writers
On August 6, the Hiroshima municipal government restricted admission to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, where the Peace Memorial Ceremony was held, as it did last year. In 2024, long waits at the entrance for atomic bomb survivors and others became a problem, but this year, the installation of priority gates brought some improvement. Meanwhile, some citizen groups around the Atomic Bomb Dome refused to comply with the city’s order to leave the park and were forced out, causing a commotion.
The restriction was in place from 5 to 9 a.m. to strengthen security measures. Priority gates for A-bomb survivors, the elderly, and people with disabilities were installed at all five entrances, where luggage inspections were conducted, based on lessons learned from last year. Admission started at 6 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than before.
Approximately 30 people lined up at the priority gates on Peace Boulevard when it opened. Hideo Arai, 81, a resident of Naka Ward who entered the city after the atomic bombing and was exposed to radiation, said with delight, “Last year, it took more than an hour to get into the park, and I ended up all sweaty. But this year, I could enter without waiting, and it was good that elderly A-bomb survivors didn’t have to give up attending the ceremony.”
Hajime Hirao, 64, a local civil servant from Higashihiroshima who lined up at general gates, said, “This year, we didn’t have to wait long. I’m grateful the burden was lighter.” However, according to the city government, some students on school trips were delayed, and luggage inspections took a long time, so some reserved municipal seats were taken only after the ceremony had already begun.
In front of the A-bomb Dome, a citizen group called the August 6 Hiroshima Grand Action held a meeting starting the night of August 5 and stayed overnight in the park.
The municipal government ordered them to leave as the restriction took effect. When the group resisted without obeying the order, the Hiroshima Chuo Police Station, acting on a municipal request to remove them, informed the group that their actions constituted forcible obstruction of business. At least 10 people were removed from the park, but most remained, continuing a quarrel and standoff until they began a demonstration march after 8:15 a.m.
(Originally published on August 7, 2025)
On August 6, the Hiroshima municipal government restricted admission to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima, where the Peace Memorial Ceremony was held, as it did last year. In 2024, long waits at the entrance for atomic bomb survivors and others became a problem, but this year, the installation of priority gates brought some improvement. Meanwhile, some citizen groups around the Atomic Bomb Dome refused to comply with the city’s order to leave the park and were forced out, causing a commotion.
The restriction was in place from 5 to 9 a.m. to strengthen security measures. Priority gates for A-bomb survivors, the elderly, and people with disabilities were installed at all five entrances, where luggage inspections were conducted, based on lessons learned from last year. Admission started at 6 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than before.
Approximately 30 people lined up at the priority gates on Peace Boulevard when it opened. Hideo Arai, 81, a resident of Naka Ward who entered the city after the atomic bombing and was exposed to radiation, said with delight, “Last year, it took more than an hour to get into the park, and I ended up all sweaty. But this year, I could enter without waiting, and it was good that elderly A-bomb survivors didn’t have to give up attending the ceremony.”
Hajime Hirao, 64, a local civil servant from Higashihiroshima who lined up at general gates, said, “This year, we didn’t have to wait long. I’m grateful the burden was lighter.” However, according to the city government, some students on school trips were delayed, and luggage inspections took a long time, so some reserved municipal seats were taken only after the ceremony had already begun.
In front of the A-bomb Dome, a citizen group called the August 6 Hiroshima Grand Action held a meeting starting the night of August 5 and stayed overnight in the park.
The municipal government ordered them to leave as the restriction took effect. When the group resisted without obeying the order, the Hiroshima Chuo Police Station, acting on a municipal request to remove them, informed the group that their actions constituted forcible obstruction of business. At least 10 people were removed from the park, but most remained, continuing a quarrel and standoff until they began a demonstration march after 8:15 a.m.
(Originally published on August 7, 2025)
