"Do not rely upon a nuclear umbrella"

(August, 6, '97)

Hiroshima commemorated the 52nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city on August 6, 1997. The Peace Memorial Ceremony was solemnly observed at the Peace Memorial Park, which is located in the city's Naka-Ward. There were 45,000 people participated in the ceremony (announced by the city government). The rain from last night ceased before the ceremony.

Hiroshima Mayor, Takashi Hiraoka stated in the Peace Declaration that "Nuclear weapons stand at the very apex of all of the violence". He appealed for the realization of abolishing all nuclear weapons and called upon the government of Japan to devise security arrangements that do not rely upon a nuclear umbrella.

On August 6, Hiroshima commemorated the 52nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city at the Peace Memorial Park in the city's Naka-Ward. Beginning very early in the morning, citizens and relatives of the A-bomb victims ceaselessly visited the various monuments that stand scattered around the Peace Park including the A-bomb Cenotaph and the A-bomb Memorial Mound to mourn for the victims.

The Peace Memorial Ceremony, which was conducted by the city government, began at 8:00 a.m. Hiroshima Mayor, Takashi Hiraoka and two representatives of the bereaved families dedicated the Register of the Names of the Fallen Atomic Victims to the Cenotaph. Placed under the Cenotaph are the original stone plate on which an inscription is carved, and the original stone chest in which the register of the names of the fallen atomic victims is stored.

There are more names added to the register every year and 5,067 names were added this year including the names of victims whose deaths were finally confirmed after 52 years. A total number of registered names reached 202,118 this year.

Following the dedication of the register of the names, representatives of bereaved families from every prefecture including Hiroshima City, Ryutaro Hashimoto, the Prime Minister of Japan, Soichiro Ito, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kanpei Matsuo, the Vice-President of the House of Councilors, Yuzan Fujita, Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture dedicated flowers to the Cenotaph. At 8:15, the time when the atomic bomb was exploded 52 years ago, the Peace Bell was sounded by two representatives of bereaved families and approximately 45,000 participants observed a minute of silence.

Hiroshima Mayor Takashi Hiraoka

Mayor Hiraoka presented the Peace Declaration. As extracted from this year's peace declaration, he addressed that "We in Hiroshima are outraged that nuclear weapons have yet to be abolished and banished from the face of earth, and we are very uneasy about the future of civilization. The United States conducted a subcritical test and this attitude is utterly devoid of the wisdom needed if all peoples are to co-exist. We implore the global community to recognize that nuclear weapons stand at the very apex of all of the violence that war represents. The Fourth World Conference of Mayors for Peace through Inter-city Solidarity currently meeting in Hiroshima seeks a nuclear-free world and is deliberating calling upon all governments and international institutions to conclude a pact banning the use of nuclear weapons and to expand nuclear-weapons-free zones. Japan and other countries differ in language, religion, and customs, and there are also some differences of historical perspective, particularly with our neighbors. All the more do we hope that candid dialogue among all the peoples of the world will result in a shared vision of a brighter tomorrow."