For two days from August 4 to 5, 2022, JCCU and the Hiroshima Consumers' Co-operative Union jointly held the "2022 Peace Action in Hiroshima." Together with the "2022 Peace Action in Nagasaki" held from August 7 to 8, 2022, a total of 9,100 people participated. In light of the COVID-19 infection situation, a special website was set up and the event was held via online video streaming. The Rainbow Stage in Hiroshima  had physical participation from within Hiroshima Prefecture.

This year marks the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing and under the theme "From Hiroshima for a Peaceful Future: 77 years since the A-bombing, a world free of war and nuclear weapons for future generations," the event was planned to encourage each individual to take action to seek a peaceful world without war and nuclear weapons, and to interact and share with each other across generations.

On August 5, "Rainbow Stage in Hiroshima " was held. The event opened with a brass band performance by a local citizen's brass band from Hiroshima, expressing the wish for a peaceful future.

Mr. SHIMADA Hiroyuki, Managing Director/CEO of JCCU, representing the organizers greeted the audience by referring to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and said, "Let us think together to pass on a world without war and nuclear weapons to the next generation."

In his greeting as guest of honor, Mr. MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor of Hiroshima said, "What is important is to accept the Hibakusha's wish that no one should ever feel this way again as our own, and to let a culture of sharing their wish for peace take root in our daily lives. Let us work together toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting peace."

Mr. TAUE Tomihisa, Mayor of Nagasaki, said in his video message, "Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its suggestion to use nuclear weapons has made it clear that the only way for us to escape the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them. Let us walk together on the path to peace as important friends who share the same desire for a world without nuclear weapons."

After that, the audience listened to the testimony of Mr. YAMAMOTO Sadao, an A-bomb survivor, who also introduced pictures drawn by students of Hiroshima Municipal Motomachi Senior High School based on his testimony.

Additionally, videos and interviews of peace efforts by university and high school students in Hiroshima Prefecture were introduced. The program was also connected live with co-op staff who had been participating with A-bomb survivors in the NPT Review Conference, which had been held at the UN Headquarters in New York since August 1.

The event ended with a chorus by A-bombed piano.

(right) Message for peace in a large calligraphy performance by students from Yasuda Women's University and Yasuda Women's High School     

In the section meetings, a total of three live-streaming events were held including an online testimony session to hear testimonies from A-bomb survivors, a reading of poems about A-bomb experiences, and "Peace Activities Connected by Technology," a project to connect Professor WATANABE Hidenori of the University of Tokyo and students of his Laboratory in New York.

JCCU and co-ops nationwide aim to abolish nuclear weapons and realize a peaceful society through Peace Action and other peace initiatives.