Motofumu Asai (63), professor of International Relations at Meiji Gakuin University, will take over as president of the Hiroshima Peace Institute of Hiroshima City University (Naka-ku) in April of next year. During an interview in Hiroshima on the 31st he said, "I want to think carefully about the future of peace, nuclear weapons, and Japan."

Professor Asai, also touching on the controversy over revising the constitution, predicted, "This choice is likely to be presented to the Japanese people as a whole while I am president." I intend to mobilize all the resources of the Peace Institute and formulate a response."

With respect to messages going out from Hiroshima, he expressed his understanding that, "We say, 'Listen to the A-bombed city' but we lack a common language.. As the A-bombed city, we need to raise consciousness in a way that incorporates both the atomic bombing and Japanese aggression."

The president's term is indefinite. Professor Asai, expressing his enthusiasm, says, "I want to stay as long as I can be useful." He was in town this day for the Peace Institute's international symposium.

(Caption)Motofumi Asai describing his hopes for the future and touching on the revision of the constitution and the proper role of the A-bombed city