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by Fumiyasu Miyano and Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writers

On July 16, Thomas Bach, president of International Olympic Committee (IOC) realized a visit to Hiroshima, the A-bombed city. At Peace Memorial Park in the city’s Naka Ward, Mr. Bach was struck by what he saw and heard about the tragedy on that day, and vowed to contribute to peace, by saying, “I experienced great emotional inspiration to do everything through sport and through Olympic games for more peaceful world.” However, he didn’t make any comments about the “elimination of nuclear weapons” which people in Hiroshima had wanted to hear. His message failed to silence cold voices against “the frenzied works of the Olympics by Bach.”

Peace Memorial Park was under cloudy sky with sparse raindrops. Around 1:30 p.m. Mr. Bach got out of a car in front of the main building of the Peace Memorial Museum and proceeded to the central path in the park. He then laid a flower wreath at the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb victims, held hands at front and closed his eyes with his head down for about a minute.

On the way to the museum’s entrance, Hidehiko Yuzaki, governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, led him and talked about the towns that had existed on the spot prior to the atomic bombing. Mr. Bach responded that just coming to Hiroshima gave him a solemn feeling, and that people should feel it not only through books, but also by coming in person.

Mr. Bach toured the museum behind closed doors. According to Takuo Takigawa, the museum director who guided him, he closely observed tattered clothing of the mobilized student and photos of children taken before the atomic bombing, and was nearly in tears as if he had imagined their lost futures.

At the museum, he met with Fumiaki Kajiya, 82, A-bomb survivor living in Asaminami Ward, who served as a bearer in a torch relay held at the park in May. Mr. Kajiya expressed gratitude for his visit and said, “I wish for the success of the Olympics.” Then, they bumped elbows. It is said Mr. Bach talked with Nobuyuki Koike, deputy mayor of the city of Hiroshima, who accompanied him, and said, “DNA of peace is integrated into sports. No peace, no sports.”

When he delivered a speech for about 10 minutes on the first floor of the museum’s east building, he strongly said, “Today I’m here to reaffirm to the city of Hiroshima and all of people from Hiroshima our peace mission in the Olympic movement,” but didn’t mention anything about elimination of nuclear weapons. Although a reporter asked if he supported abolishment of nuclear weapons twice, he kept silent and left the museum while keeping a stern look, and departed from the park. He stayed for a little less than two hours.

Imagining Mr. Bach’s feelings, Mr. Kajiya said, “He often used the word “peace,” and I am sure he cherishes peace so much. I think his decision to visit Hiroshima has expressed such belief.”

Toshiyuki Mimaki, acting chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), witnessed Mr. Bach’s visit from outside the fences, which were placed to limit access to the park. Mr. Mimaki recognized that Mr. Bach had spent much time in touring the museum, but coldly said, “I don’t think he sent a perfect message because he didn’t mention elimination of nuclear weapons despite his in-person visit to Hiroshima.”

(Originally published on July 17, 2021)