At the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japanese consumer co-operatives promoted the “peace action 2016” with various activities including peace parades and seminars by co-op members nationwide to share the wish of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to express their objection against war and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The Hiroshima event which was held for three days from August 4 to 6 was co-sponsored by JCCU and the Hiroshima Prefecture Consumers Co-operative Union. It was attended by 1,200 coop members from 61 co-ops nationwide. The Nagasaki event was held for two days from August 7-8 under the co-sponsorship of JCCU and the Nagasaki Prefecture Consumers Cooperative Union and was attended by 850 co-op members from 43 co-ops nationwide.

The Hiroshima event took as its theme “Learning and understanding the heart of Hiroshima by the younger generation – 71st year since atomic bombing, renewing our commitment towards the inheritance and peaceful creation of a world without nuclear weapons”.

“Niji-no Hiroba” Event

This event consisted of two parts, the ‘Niji-no Stage (Rainbow stage)’ and the ‘Minna-no Hiroba (Everyone’s space)’ was held on the afternoon of August 5, at the Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center ‘Green Arena’.

For part one, "rainbow of stage", curtains were opened to Japanese drumming performance by school children which received great applause from the audience.

(R)WADA Toshiaki, Managing Director JCCU / (L)Mr. MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor of Hiroshima

Mr. MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor of Hiroshima in a greeting emphasized on a collective effort to realize a peaceful world without nuclear weapons.Taken turns, WADA Toshiaki, the Managing Director of JCCU urged the audience to firmly perceive the thoughts of the atomic bomb survivors and strive for peace. 

Thereafter relay messages from young people calling for peace were introduced such as “Abomb painting” by the Hiroshima Municipal Motomachi high school and computer graphics of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima before and after by the students of Hiroshima Prefectural Fukuyama technical high school produced through interviews and hearings from A-bomb survivors.

At the ‘Minna-no-Hiroba’

Many events were held including setting up of booths by various Co-ops nationwide featuring their peace activities, including peace messages and peace songs.

During the period of August 4 to 6 a total of 16 subcommittee meetings were held with the participation of about 1,000 people pushing for a nuclearweapon-free world. Also monuments and Hiroshima bomb ruins tour were organized for school children. "2016 Children's Peace Conference" was held where the children discussed ways to build a brighter future and appealed for peace.

booth introducing co-op peace activities / the monument tour / children's peace conference