Obuchi to skip A-bomb memorial ceremony in Nagasaki

Aug. 4, Kyodo - Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi will not attend a ceremony marking the 54th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said Wednesday.

The top government spokesman told a news conference that Obuchi will attend the Hiroshima A-bomb ceremony on Friday but not the Nagasaki ceremony three days later since it falls in ''a critical period in the Diet, and his schedule is tight.''

Prime ministers usually alternate their visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki on a yearly basis, but Obuchi visited both cities last year.

Health and Welfare Minister Sohei Miyashita will attend the Nagasaki ceremony in place of Obuchi, government officials said.

The bombing of Nagasaki in 1945, three days after that of Hiroshima, was followed by Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allies six days later.

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