Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > August 2013 > The Prime Minister Attends the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, and Other Activities
The Prime Minister Attends the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, and Other Activities
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Photograph of the Prime Minister attending the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony
Photograph of the Prime Minister offering a silent prayer at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony
Photograph of the Prime Minster visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Photograph of the Prime Minister giving words of encouragement to the people at Funairi Mutsumi-en
Photograph of the Prime Minister listening to requests by representatives of atomic bomb victims
Photograph of the Prime Minster holding a press conference
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony held in the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City.
Approximately 50,000 people including atomic bomb victims and bereaved family members, as well as representatives of 70 nations and the European Union, attended the ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombing, praying for the repose of the souls of the war dead and for world peace.
Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City, and the representatives of the bereaved family members added the names of people recognized as atomic bomb victims in the past year to the cenotaph and, furthermore, Prime Minister Abe and other participants led by the representatives of the bereaved family members and the atomic bomb victims offered flowers. Afterwards, the Peace Bell was rung at 8:15 a.m., when the atomic bomb was dropped, and all the participants offered a minute of silent prayer.
Next, after Mayor Matsui offered a Peace Declaration and two child representatives recited the Promise for Peace, Prime Minister Abe paid his respects to the victims and delivered an address.
After the ceremony, Prime Minster Abe visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and a nursing home for atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima, Funairi Mutsumi-en.
The Prime Minister then moved to a hotel in Hiroshima City and attended a meeting to listen to requests by representatives of atomic bomb victims. After receiving requests from representatives of seven groups of atomic bomb victims, he held a press conference.
