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Hiroshima : 70 Years After the A-bombing

Messages from Mayors for Peace: 12 mayors from Saitama Prefecture

1. Hayato Shimizu, Mayor of Saitama City

Nearly 70 years have passed since the tragic atomic bombings. As the number of people who did not live through the war grows, there is concern that memories of the war will fade. In order to ensure that such a terrible war never occurs again, Japan, as the only country in the world to experience atomic bombings, must convey the frightfulness, misery and futility of war and the horrors of nuclear weapons to the people of the world.

Saitama City, which has issued a “Peace Declaration City,” shares Hiroshima’s desire for peace and will work to contribute to the abolition of nuclear weapons and to achieving lasting global peace.

2. Tatsuo Tanaka, Mayor of Iruma City

The precious lives of many people in Hiroshima were lost in the atomic bombing of the city in August 1945, and nearly 70 years later the survivors continue to suffer the effects of radiation.

In Iruma City we have called for the abolition of nuclear weapons and efforts to avoid repeating the mistakes of the war. In August 1995 the city issued a “Peace City Declaration” stating the need to protect the irreplaceable global environment and to achieve a lasting global peace, goals that are shared by our citizens. We have also undertaken various projects to promote peace and raise awareness of peace-related issues.

We will cooperate more closely with other member cities of Mayors for Peace in order to bring about a peaceful world without nuclear weapons.

3. Kiyoshi Tomioka, Mayor of Kumagaya City

The world is still living with the threat of nuclear weapons and the fear of terrorism. The member cities of Mayors for Peace must take the lead in the effort to eliminate them and issue a message calling for peace.

Many precious lives were lost in an air raid on Kumagaya City the night before the war ended, and the city was among those designated to receive government assistance to rebuild. The land that was instantly reduced to scorched earth and the suffering from the loss of many precious lives must never be forgotten. In order to ensure that these memories of the war are not lost, on July 1, 2006, our city issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration.”

Passing on to future generations this beautiful, irreplaceable earth and the great legacy that humankind has built is the mission of those of us living today. We will continue to promote peace-related endeavors in an effort to bring about lasting world peace and to eliminate nuclear weapons.

4. Yukinari Nakagawa, Mayor of Sayama City

Sayama City issued a “Peace City Declaration” in 1989, and every year junior high school students, the leaders of the future, attend the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.

This year, the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, in accordance with our peace city declaration, we will hold a ceremony to honor the memory of those who died in the war and to pray for lasting peace.

With a sincere desire for an end to the horrors of the recurring conflicts and civil wars around the world, the abolition of all nuclear weapons and lasting peace in the world, Sayama City and its citizens will continue to promote peace-related endeavors.

5. Yoshirou Fujinawa, Mayor of Tsurugashima City

Tsurugashima City issued a “Peace City Declaration” in March 2012 and sends students from the city’s elementary schools to the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima. I myself attended the ceremony two years ago and was reminded that everyone shares the desire for a world without nuclear weapons and for lasting peace.

We will continue to honor the memory of those who died in the war and work to raise awareness of the need for peace among the citizens of Tsurugashima City, never forgetting a sense of gratitude for the peace we enjoy.

6. Masato Fujimoto, Mayor of Tokorozawa City

Many precious lives were lost when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945. As we approach the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, many people still suffer from the effects of radiation and from emotional distress.

In 1984 the City of Hiroshima gave Tokorozawa City a paving stone that had been used at the old city hall, which was destroyed by the atomic bombing. By placing this paving stone at our city hall, we offer a prayer for peace, never forgetting the frightfulness of nuclear weapons and the misery of war.

With the hope that no other country will ever experience an atomic bombing, we will cooperate more closely with the member cities of Mayors for Peace and work to abolish nuclear weapons and achieve world peace.

7. Masaru Okubo, Mayor of Hanno City

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I would like to pay my sincere respects to the memory of the many people who lost their lives to the atomic bombs and express my heartfelt sympathy to those who continue to suffer from the effects of the atomic bombings.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind myself of the horror of war, the need for peace and the preciousness of life. I pledge to convey the importance of peace to the next generation and to work even harder to bring about a peaceful society for the children who will lead Japan in the future.

8. Koichi Morita, Mayor of Higashimatsuyama City

In September 1996 Higashimatsuyama City, “the city of flowers and walking,” declared our city an “International City of Peace.” Since then we hold an annual contest in which we solicit peace-related essays and pictures and award prizes. We also carry out programs in cooperation with the Peace Museum of Saitama, which is located in our city.

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, we will continue to advance efforts to consider with our citizens the preciousness of peace and the horror of war.

9. Shingo Hoshino, Mayor of Fujimi City

In 1987 Fujimi City issued a “Nuclear-Free Peace City Declaration.” In the hope that a philosophy of peace and opposition to nuclear weapons will be deeply rooted among our citizens, we hold an annual peace festival. Our peace city declaration has been posted in six locations around the city, and there is a “peace bell” at city hall that was donated by citizens. Conveying the misery and horror of war and the atomic bombing and the preciousness of peace is our mission, and we will work to pass this sentiment on to the children who will lead the next generation.

10. Hiroshi Takahata, Mayor of Fujimino City

Seventy years after the tragedies of 1945, the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons from the world has yet to be achieved. This lamentable situation demonstrates the immaturity of human beings.

But only human beings can rectify the mistakes that result from their immaturity and move forward. As time goes by, there are fewer and fewer people who experienced the war and can tell of their experiences. Our generation can only pass on their stories as records rather than memories. That is why it is important to speak up.

We will call for peace in order to eliminate nuclear weapons, a goal that could not be achieved over the past 70 years.

11. Noboru Yoshida, Mayor of Namegawa Town

Peace is the universal desire of all humankind.

The history of the 20th Century is one of many terrible wars. Those of us who lived in the 20th Century have a duty to make the 21st Century a century of peace.

Around the world the risks associated with nuclear weapons and the development of nuclear energy are growing.

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as local government officials and as citizens of Japan, the only nation to experience atomic bombings, we will make every effort to bring about lasting peace and to create a global environment in which people can live without fear.

12. Shigeo Aida, Mayor of Matsubushi Town

Matsubushi Town issued a “Peace City Declaration” in 1989 calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and stating the city’s desire for lasting peace.

Calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons so that tragic conflicts will never again occur and building peaceful lives filled with tranquility are the desires of the citizens of our town and of the people of the world.

We believe that the people of Japan and of the world must join forces to abolish nuclear weapons as soon as possible and to bring about a society in which the children of the future need not live in fear of nuclear weapons.