President of Norway’s parliament visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to understand A-bomb devastation
Mar. 18, 2016
On March 6, Olemic Thommessen, 59, the president of the Norwegian Parliament, visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward. Through touring the Peace Memorial Museum and listening to an account of the atomic bombing from an A-bomb survivor, Mr. Thommessen was able to grasp the devastation caused by the atomic bomb. Responding to what he experienced, he said that human beings must never forget the destruction and misery wrought by the atomic bomb.
Escorted by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, Mr. Thommessen laid flowers at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims. He was guided through the Peace Memorial Museum by Yasuyoshi Komizo, the chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. He looked intently at a panoramic model of the burnt ruins of the city center and a charred lunchbox.
At the International Conference Center Hiroshima, Mr. Thommessen listened to the A-bomb account of survivor Keiko Ogura, 78, in English. Ms. Ogura vividly described the terror of nuclear weapons. After hearing her story, Mr. Thommessen wrote the following comment in the museum guest book: “A strong testimony, with a clear message! Never Again!! With deepest sympathy and respect.”
Mr. Thommessen arrived in Japan on March 4 at the invitation of Japan’s House of Representatives. His first visit to Hiroshima was arranged at his request.
(Originally published on March 7, 2016)
Escorted by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, Mr. Thommessen laid flowers at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims. He was guided through the Peace Memorial Museum by Yasuyoshi Komizo, the chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. He looked intently at a panoramic model of the burnt ruins of the city center and a charred lunchbox.
At the International Conference Center Hiroshima, Mr. Thommessen listened to the A-bomb account of survivor Keiko Ogura, 78, in English. Ms. Ogura vividly described the terror of nuclear weapons. After hearing her story, Mr. Thommessen wrote the following comment in the museum guest book: “A strong testimony, with a clear message! Never Again!! With deepest sympathy and respect.”
Mr. Thommessen arrived in Japan on March 4 at the invitation of Japan’s House of Representatives. His first visit to Hiroshima was arranged at his request.
(Originally published on March 7, 2016)
