Representatives from 82 nations and EU to attend Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on August 6
Jul. 13, 2016
by Hiroaki Watanabe, Staff Writer
On July 12, the City of Hiroshima announced the outline of the Peace Memorial Ceremony which will be held at the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward on August 6, marking the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. So far, representatives from 82 nations and the European Union (EU) have confirmed that they will attend the ceremony. Amid growing international interest in the atomic-bombed city after U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit in May, the City of Hiroshima will appeal to the world for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. The number of representatives from families of the A-bomb victims is 37, the lowest number since bereaved family members were first invited to the ceremony.
The city sent letters of invitation to a record-high 157 nations, which is one more than last year. The 82 nations set to attend this year’s ceremony will be the second highest total following the 100 nations which attended last year’s ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Four countries, which include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Gabonese Republic, the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Moldova, will attend the ceremony for the first time. Among the five nuclear weapons states, the United Kingdom and France will attend the ceremony, but China will not. The city has yet to receive responses from the United States and Russia.
With regard to the bereaved families, a total of 37 people, one each from 37 prefectures, will attend the ceremony. This is fewer than the 39 people recorded in 2004, 2007, and 2008. The oldest representative is 90 years old, while the youngest is 40, with an average age of 70.4 years. As to why the number of representatives has decreased, the city said that no one from the other prefectures wished to attend the ceremony.
The Peace Memorial Ceremony will start at 8 a.m. and will last 45 minutes. At the sound of the “Peace Bell,” tolled precisely at 8:15, the time that the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the participants will offer a silent minute of prayer for the A-bomb victims. The bell will be struck on behalf of the bereaved families by Sosuke Kamemoto, 41, a resident of Nishi Ward and a teacher at Koi-higashi Elementary School, and on behalf of children, Yui Takeda, 11, a 6th grade student at Kan-on Elementary School and a resident of Nishi Ward.
After the prayer, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui will read out the Peace Declaration, which will include an extract from the speech Mr. Obama made in Hiroshima. The Commitment to Peace will then be read on behalf of children by Yuta Aoki, 12, a 6th grade student at Kameyama Elementary School and a resident of Asakita Ward, and Tariho Nakaoku, 11, a 6th grade student at Takeya Elementary School and a resident of Naka Ward.
Four representatives of the bereaved families and the children attended a press conference held at Hiroshima City Hall on July 12. Yui Taketa said, “My great-grandmother was exposed to the atomic bomb. She told me that she developed A-bomb-related diseases after the war and went through a very difficult time. I’ll strike the bell with the hope that there will never be another war.”
(Originally published on July 13, 2016)
On July 12, the City of Hiroshima announced the outline of the Peace Memorial Ceremony which will be held at the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward on August 6, marking the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. So far, representatives from 82 nations and the European Union (EU) have confirmed that they will attend the ceremony. Amid growing international interest in the atomic-bombed city after U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit in May, the City of Hiroshima will appeal to the world for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. The number of representatives from families of the A-bomb victims is 37, the lowest number since bereaved family members were first invited to the ceremony.
The city sent letters of invitation to a record-high 157 nations, which is one more than last year. The 82 nations set to attend this year’s ceremony will be the second highest total following the 100 nations which attended last year’s ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Four countries, which include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Gabonese Republic, the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Moldova, will attend the ceremony for the first time. Among the five nuclear weapons states, the United Kingdom and France will attend the ceremony, but China will not. The city has yet to receive responses from the United States and Russia.
With regard to the bereaved families, a total of 37 people, one each from 37 prefectures, will attend the ceremony. This is fewer than the 39 people recorded in 2004, 2007, and 2008. The oldest representative is 90 years old, while the youngest is 40, with an average age of 70.4 years. As to why the number of representatives has decreased, the city said that no one from the other prefectures wished to attend the ceremony.
The Peace Memorial Ceremony will start at 8 a.m. and will last 45 minutes. At the sound of the “Peace Bell,” tolled precisely at 8:15, the time that the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the participants will offer a silent minute of prayer for the A-bomb victims. The bell will be struck on behalf of the bereaved families by Sosuke Kamemoto, 41, a resident of Nishi Ward and a teacher at Koi-higashi Elementary School, and on behalf of children, Yui Takeda, 11, a 6th grade student at Kan-on Elementary School and a resident of Nishi Ward.
After the prayer, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui will read out the Peace Declaration, which will include an extract from the speech Mr. Obama made in Hiroshima. The Commitment to Peace will then be read on behalf of children by Yuta Aoki, 12, a 6th grade student at Kameyama Elementary School and a resident of Asakita Ward, and Tariho Nakaoku, 11, a 6th grade student at Takeya Elementary School and a resident of Naka Ward.
Four representatives of the bereaved families and the children attended a press conference held at Hiroshima City Hall on July 12. Yui Taketa said, “My great-grandmother was exposed to the atomic bomb. She told me that she developed A-bomb-related diseases after the war and went through a very difficult time. I’ll strike the bell with the hope that there will never be another war.”
(Originally published on July 13, 2016)
