[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the annual Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony held in the Peace Park in Nagasaki City.

Approximately 6,800 people including atomic bomb survivors and bereaved family members, as well as representatives of the United Nations and other international organizations, 75 nations and regions, and the European Union, attended the ceremony, which was held on the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing, praying for the repose of the souls of the atomic bomb victims and for world peace.

Mr. Tomihisa Taue, Mayor of Nagasaki City, and the representatives of the bereaved family members, the atomic bomb survivors and the youth, placed at the site the list of the names of atomic bomb victims whose passing was confirmed in the past year. Then, the representatives of the bereaved family members and the atomic bomb survivors, and elementary, junior high, and high school student representatives offered water. Afterwards, the representatives of the bereaved family members and the atomic bomb survivors, the Prime Minister and other guests offered wreaths. The Bell of Nagasaki was then rung at 11:02 a.m., the time that the atomic bomb was dropped, and all the participants prayed in silence for one minute.

Then, following Mayor Taue’s Peace Declaration, the recital of the Promise for Peace by a representative of the atomic bomb survivors, and a choral song performed by elementary school students, Prime Minister Abe expressed his heartfelt prayers for the repose of the souls of the victims and delivered an address.

After the ceremony, the Prime Minister attended a meeting to listen to requests by representatives of atomic bomb survivors at a hotel in Nagasaki City, and heard requests from representatives from five groups of atomic bomb survivors and others. Following this, Prime Minister Abe held a press conference.