Peace Declaration
Encyclopedia
An annual speech delivered by the Mayor of Hiroshima
on August 6, the day that city was destroyed by an atom bomb delivered by a US B-29. That speech has been delivered regularly since 1947, except for 1950, when the US occupation forces prohibited Mayor Shinzo Hamai
to deliver the speech. The Peace Declaration at first touched upon issues such as nuclear disarmament, but since the 1980s also issues such as armed conflicts around the world in general.
A similar annual speech is also delivered by the Mayor of Nagasaki
since 1948.
At the 1st ceremony in 1947, a message was read by General McArthur.
The 2nd ceremony in 1948 was attended by the Australian Commander of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
Gen. Horace Robertson
.
The 1977 ceremony was the first attended by a UN official.
The 2010 ceremony was the first attended by the US Ambassador to Japan.
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
on August 6, the day that city was destroyed by an atom bomb delivered by a US B-29. That speech has been delivered regularly since 1947, except for 1950, when the US occupation forces prohibited Mayor Shinzo Hamai
Shinzo Hamai
was the first popularly elected Mayor of Hiroshima . He created Hiroshima's image as a city of peace.-Life and career:...
to deliver the speech. The Peace Declaration at first touched upon issues such as nuclear disarmament, but since the 1980s also issues such as armed conflicts around the world in general.
A similar annual speech is also delivered by the Mayor of Nagasaki
Nagasaki
is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Nagasaki was founded by the Portuguese in the second half of the 16th century on the site of a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District...
since 1948.
Memorial ceremonies marked by special guests or features
Some of the memorial ceremonies were marked by statements by additional leaders than just the mayor of Hiroshima.At the 1st ceremony in 1947, a message was read by General McArthur.
The 2nd ceremony in 1948 was attended by the Australian Commander of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
Gen. Horace Robertson
Horace Robertson
Lieutenant General Sir Horace Clement Hugh Robertson KBE, DSO was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served in the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War...
.
The 1977 ceremony was the first attended by a UN official.
The 2010 ceremony was the first attended by the US Ambassador to Japan.
External links
- Link to all Hiroshima Peace Declarations (at the website of Hiroshima municipality).
- Peace Declarations for A-bomb anniversaries reflect the times, 2010 article in the Chugoku ShimbunChugoku ShimbunThe is a Japanese local daily newspaper based in Hiroshima. It serves the Chūgoku region of Japan with a market share in Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Shimane, Okayama and Tottori Prefectures. The newspaper publishes morning paper and evening editions. The morning paper has a daily circulation of 646,908...
. - Peace declaration a reflection of the times, a revised 2011 version of the same article.