Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Prime Minister Attends the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony (1)
Approximately 6,000 people including atomic bomb victims and bereaved family members, as well as representatives of 29 nations -- the largest number of nations ever -- attended the ceremony marking the 64th anniversary of the atomic bombing, praying for the repose of the souls of the war dead. Mr. Tomihisa Taue, Mayor of Nagasaki City, and the representatives of the bereaved family members and the atomic bomb victims placed at the site the list of the names of the atomic bomb victims who had been confirmed dead in the past year. The representatives of the bereaved family members, the atomic bomb victims, and the local elementary, junior high, and high school students offered water, while Mayor Taue, Prime Minister Aso, and other guests offered wreathes.
The Bell of Nagasaki was rung at 11:02 a.m., when the atomic bomb was dropped, and the participants prayed in silence for a minute. Following Mayor Taue's Peace Declaration, the recital of the Promise for Peace by Ms. Ayako Okumura, the representative of the atomic bomb victims, and the choral singing of the song, "To the Souls of the Children," by students from Shiroyama Elementary School in Nagasaki City, Prime Minister Aso delivered an address.
Prime Minister Aso said, "Today I again renew the pledge that Japan shall firmly maintain the Three Non-Nuclear Principles and lead the international community towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the realization of eternal peace."
After the ceremony, the Prime Minister held a joint press conference with Mr. Yoichi Masuzoe, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare at a hotel in Nagasaki City, and met with representatives of atomic bomb victims' organizations. The Prime Minister said, "As the only country to have experienced nuclear devastation in the history of humanity, Japan has observed the provisions of the Constitution, firmly maintained the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, and urged the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the realization of eternal peace so that the tragedy of the atomic bombings shall never be repeated. I have renewed my determination to continue making efforts to promptly realize a world without nuclear weapons." The Prime Minister received a letter of request from atomic bomb victims' organizations, and each one of the representatives of the organizations explained their requests.
Later on, Prime Minister Aso visited a nursing home for atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki, the Hill of Grace Nagasaki A-Bomb Home, and gave his greeting, saying, "Without any doubt, it is thanks to your efforts that peace and a sense of reassurance have been firmly established throughout this country, which was burned to the ground 64 years ago. The prosperity that Japan enjoys today is thanks to your hard work."
Related Link
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister offering a wreath at the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony (3)
Photograph of the Prime Minister holding a press conference
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving a letter of request from a representative of atomic bomb victims' organizations
Photograph of the Prime Minister listening to the requests of atomic bomb victims' organizations
Photograph of the Prime Minister giving words of encouragement to people at the Hill of Grace Nagasaki A-Bomb Home (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister giving words of encouragement to people at the Hill of Grace Nagasaki A-Bomb Home (2)
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