At the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japanese consumer co-operatives promoted the “Peace Action 2018” with various activities including peace parades and subcommittee meetings by co-op members nationwide to share the wish of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to express their objection against war and to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Peace Action in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

JCCU co-sponsored both events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki with Hiroshima Consumers' Co-operative Union and Nagasaki Consumers' Co-operative Union respectively.

The Hiroshima event was held for three days from August 4 to 6, 2018, and was attended by 2,300 participants including staff and members of 70 consumer co-ops nationwide. The theme for the event was “Learning and understanding the heart of Hiroshima by the younger generation and renewing commitment towards the inheritance and peace creation of a world without nuclear weapons”.

The Nagasaki event was held for two days from August 7 to 8, under the theme “A peaceful future without war and nuclear weapons - Inherit the thought of Hibakusha in Nagasaki and the Hibakusha and spread it in Japan and worldwide ~". It was attended by 1,110 participants including staff and members of 50 consumer co-ops nationwide.

Various events took place in both areas including “Niji-no Hiroba (Rainbow stage)” Event.

In Hiroshima, this event consisting of three parts, the ‘Niji-no Stage (Rainbow stage)’ ,  the ‘Minna-no Hiroba (Everyone’s space)’, and the ‘Finale’ was held on the afternoon of August 5, at the Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center ‘Green Arena’, while that in Nagasaki was held on August 8 at the Nagasaki Community Center Cultural Hall.

HONDA Eiichi, President of JCCU, in his speech on behalf of the organizers, said, “To create a world without nuclear weapons, we must work together with various local organizations and spread the thoughts of  Hiroshima citizens to the international community”, followed by greetings by the Mayor of Hiroshima City, Mr. MATSUI Kazumi who also mentioned that “To abolish nuclear weapons, it is necessary to increase international public opinion and in order to do that we need to express Hiroshima citizen’s thought through Hibakusha Appeal to the people inside and outside Japan”.

In Nagasaki, the event started with a dragon dance by Nagasaki Girls' High School, dragon dance club (see the photo). Following the opening greetings by WADA Toshiaki, Managing Director of the JCCU, representing the planning committee, the Mayor of Nagasaki City, Mr. TAUE Tomohisa gave a short message emphasizing on the importance of citizens coming together to campaign to abolish nuclear weapons.

Niji-no Hiroba (Rainbow stage)" Event in Hiroshima

In the opening of the first part ’ Niji-no Stage (Rainbow stage)’, curtains were opened to a performance by the Hibaku Piano (an atomic-bombed piano). Mr. GOTO Toshihiro, a film director was interviewed about his original film on Mr. YAGAWA Mitsunori, a piano tuner who owns 5 Hibaku Pianos and travels around Japan for Peace Concert.

Subsequently, Mr. MIMAKI Toshiyuki, the chairman of Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (NIHON HIDANKYO) and the Deputy Chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bombing Sufferers Organizations gave testimonies about the A-bombing. Furthermore, students from Hiroshima Municipal Motomachi Senior High School and Hiroshima Prefectural Fukuyama Technical High School gave a report on their peace activities.

At the second part ‘Minna-no Hiroba (Everyone’s space)’, many events were held including setting up of booths by various Co-ops nationwide featuring their peace activities and international exchanges. There was also calligraphy performance by Yasuda Women’s University, calligraphy club and a panel display about “Hiroshima/Nagasaki A-bombing and Human” by Nihon Hidankyo. There was also an experience corner of the Hibaku Piano.

(L) calligraphy performance by Yasuda Women’s University students / (R)  state of the experience corner of the Hibaku Piano

At the “Finale”, children who attended The Children’s Peace Conference in Hiroshima gave a presentation expressing their hope that disastrous events such as Hiroshima and Nagasaki should not occur again. The Conference was held to give children an opportunity to discuss ways to build a better future.  The event ended with an appeal for peace through singing by "Niji-no Hiroba Choir".

"Niji-no Hiroba Choir"

Subcommittees held during the events

In Hiroshima, during the 3-day event, 15 subcommittee meetings including the Children’s Peace Conference were held with various activities including listening to the testimonials from the A-bomb survivors, touring around the memorial monuments and atomic-bombed old buildings in the Peace Memorial Park.

In Nagasaki, during the 2-day event, 10 subcommittee meetings were held, e.g., the Children’s Peace Conference in Nagasaki, Lectures by the A-bomb survivors, and "Co-op Peace Walking" events (visiting tours to the memorial monuments and atomic-bombed old buildings)".