President Obama visits Japan

A future visit to Hiroshima?

This issue is Part 4 of the President Obama Invitation Project.

President Obama arrived in Japan on November 13, and delivered a speech in Tokyo on November 14. One of the Peace Seeds junior writers went to the hall to hear Mr. Obama speak about the abolition of nuclear weapons.

At a press conference, the president made a rather positive remark about visiting Hiroshima, saying, "I certainly would be honored." He added, however, "I don't have immediate travel plans."

The junior writers, in watching the speech and press conference on TV, feel more strongly than ever that a visit to Hiroshima by President Obama would be a significant step toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.

We also researched the past visits to Hiroshima made by two former American presidents. Below we share the messages they conveyed while in the city.

Japan and the United States know best what these weapons can do, and together we must seek a future without them. So long as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a strong and effective nuclear deterrent that guarantees the defense of our allies, including South Korea and Japan. Nations with nuclear weapons have a responsibility to move toward nuclear disarmament; and those without nuclear weapons have a responsibility to forsake them. Strengthening the global nonproliferation regime is about all nations living up to their responsibilities. That includes the Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea. Excerpts from his speech

President Obama speaks about U.S. policies toward Asia at Suntory Hall in Tokyo on November 14, 2009. (Press photo)

U.S. President Mr. Obama recently visited Japan for the first time. Amid a busy schedule, he gave a speech at Suntory Hall in Tokyo on November 14. I covered the speech with about 100 professional journalists.

At 7:30 in the morning, 30 minutes before the hall opened, there was already a crush of invited guests and members of the media by the entrance. All the TV cameras made me nervous. At 8:05, the press began to enter and I passed through a large metal detector, like the kind used at airports. Journalists carrying bags had to show the contents and the guards took photos of each item.

The section reserved for the press was in the center balcony. It was more than 50 meters from the stage, but I could still see clearly. As a backdrop, the national flags of Japan and the United States were alternately displayed, 14 in all. Plainclothes security and hall staff kept a careful eye on the seats.

Clockwise from left: Seira Furukawa sits in the press section, waiting for the start of the president's speech; Seira interviews Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue; Invited guests and members of the media wait for the hall to open.

In the front row of the press section were many TV cameras and reporters. They appeared very busy checking their cameras and engaging in coverage. After 9 o'clock, most seats in the hall were filled. An orchestra played as the crowd waited. After the music finished, I felt tense with excitement for the start of President Obama's speech.

At 10:05, President Obama finally appeared on the stage. The audience stood up to welcome him. As he started speaking, saying "It is a great honor to be in Tokyo," the crowd responded with warm applause. The president's voice was deep and carried well. He gave a strong speech. The audience applauded many times as he talked about the importance of U.S.-Japan relations, pledged to pursue the elimination of nuclear weapons and spoke of the need for international cooperation to create a peaceful world. A particularly big hand was given when he vowed that the United States, an Asian-Pacific nation, would become more actively involved in the region.

I took it that Mr. Obama feels it's vital for the United States to deal with environmental and economic issues in cooperation with Asia nations.

He spoke about the importance of nuclear abolition, too. He said that a world with nuclear weapons would never be peaceful and so all countries, including the United States, should reduce their arsenals. I was happy to hear that. However, I was disappointed he didn't give details on how the world can eliminate nuclear weapons or refer to a visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

When the president finished his speech, the audience stood again and applauded. The president responded with a smile and slowly left the stage. I hope I have the chance to see him again one day in Hiroshima.

Outside the hall, the governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, Hideo Higashikokubaru, and the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Mizuho Fukushima, were surrounded by reporters.

I asked the mayor of Nagasaki, Tomihisa Taue, for his impression of President Obama's speech. The mayor told me, "I was glad that he stressed the idea of international cooperation, which is a key to abolishing nuclear weapons." In regard to the junior writers' effort to send letters from our readers to Mr. Obama, Mayor Taue remarked, "It's good that people are raising their voices. I hope the president will visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki soon."

We watched President Obama's press conference on TV. Regarding a possible visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the president said, "I certainly would be honored." His desire to visit the A-bombed cities was clearly conveyed.

At the same time, he said, "I don't have immediate travel plans." This is due, we think, to the fact that there are many other pressing issues, such as the deteriorating war in Afghanistan and the economic problems in the United States.

However, if Mr. Obama visited the A-bombed cities, it would draw the world's attention and more people could become aware of the horror of nuclear weapons. Because we believe that conveying this horror is the quickest way to abolishing nuclear weapons, we hope that his visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be realized as soon as possible.

On the other hand, we were disappointed that he didn't respond to a question about whether or not it was right to drop the atomic bombs. We wonder if he was bowing to public opinion in the United States.

We can understand why he made the remark, "So long as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a strong and effective nuclear deterrent that guarantees the defense of our allies." But nuclear weapons shouldn't exist. Effort is needed to abolish them.

Japan, therefore, should appeal for nuclear abolition to the nuclear powers, including the United States. As the A-bombed nation, we have the role and the responsibility to help eliminate all nuclear weapons from the world.

Two former U.S. Presidents have visited Hiroshima Jimmy Carter made a plea for peace Richard Nixon visited Peace Memorial Park Two previous U.S. presidents have visited Hiroshima. They are Jimmy Carter (left, photo courtesy of UPI=Kyodo News) and Richard Nixon (right, photo courtesy of Reuters =Kyodo News). However, no American president has visited Hiroshima while in office. Mr. Carter came to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with his wife and daughter on May 25, 1984, three years after the end of his presidency. He visited Peace Memorial Museum and offered flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims. In the museum, he apparently frowned at the panoramic model of the city after the blast and the replicas of the wounded. In the visitor's book he wrote: "This memorial must be a constant and permanent reminder for all people to work for peace and better understanding." Afterwards he made a plea for peace in front of the cenotaph, saying, "The prevention of a nuclear holocaust depends not just on the attitudes or actions of world leaders, but on the concerns and persistent demands of us all as we struggle to preserve the peace." Mr. Nixon visited Hiroshima on April 11, 1964, five years prior to becoming the 37th American president. He came to Hiroshima while traveling through Southeast Asia and other cities in Japan. Speaking about his impressions of Hiroshima, Mr. Nixon said, "Before, Hiroshima was just the name of a place. But after my interactions with the people there, the city is alive in my memories. Hiroshima is the place that ended one era and now holds the promise of peace." (Aoi Otomo, 15 and Yuka Iguchi, 14)