From August 4th to 5th, 2023, JCCU and the Hiroshima Consumers' Co-operative Union jointly held the "2023 Peace Action in Hiroshima". This event, along with the "2023 Peace Action in Nagasaki," held from August 7th to 8th saw a combined participation of 3,500 individuals from 51 consumer co-ops nationwide, including those who joined online, during the four-day events.
Peace Action in Hiroshima
Rainbow Stage
In his opening remarks, TSUCHIYA Toshio, President of JCCU, said, "I hope that this Peace Action will be a place to reflect on the importance of peace, renew awareness and determination. And please share your thoughts and feelings from participating in Rainbow Stage with as many people as possible".
As the guest of honor, MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor of Hiroshima, greeted the audience by stating, "Amid the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine and the emergence of politicians threatening the use of nuclear weapons, it is crucial to unite world leaders in taking concrete actions for the abolition of nuclear weapons. We must transform the heartfelt wishes of the Hibakusha(A-bomb survivors), who fervently hope that no one else should experience such suffering, into the shared determination of the global civil society."
In a video message, SUZUKI Shiro, Mayor of Nagasaki, emphasized, "The sole path to safeguard both the Earth and humanity from the perils posed by nuclear weapons lies in nuclear disarmament. To attain this goal, it is imperative that we continuously transmit the message of peace from Hibakusha and individuals who have witnessed the horrors of war to the future generations, while amplifying the efforts of those dedicated to eradicating warfare."
A choir performance by approximately 100 people was followed by a testimony from HIRONAKA Masaki, who experienced the atomic bombing at the age of 5. An artwork created by students from Hiroshima MOTOMACHI High School based on HIRONAKA's testimony was introduced.
Various activities by young people were showcased, including coverage of the G7 Hiroshima Summit by students of the newspaper club of Sotoku High School, a picture-story show by students at Hiroshima City University, and activities by young co-op employees to convey the War and A-bomb experiences to the next generation.
In addition, at the venue, consumer co-ops nationwide and the local schools and universities set up booths, introducing their peace activities in various regions of Japan.
Section Meetings
The section meetings occurred at two separate venues and involved discussions on a total of seven projects. This year, in addition to the survivor testimonies and the recitation of poems recounting their experiences, we introduced new initiatives. These initiatives encompassed a collaborative endeavor utilizing digital tools to explore the aftermath of the atomic bombing, known as the "Future Peace Activities Exhibition" (co-organized by the University of Tokyo and Hiroshima TV, among others). Furthermore, a "Youth Forum" was held, which offered a platform for young individuals to engage in discussions regarding a harmonious and peaceful future.
Peace Action in Nagasaki
Rainbow Stage
As the guest of honor, the Rainbow Stage invited SUZUKI Shiro, Mayor of Nagasaki, and MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor of Hiroshima(a video message), and peace messages are delivered to the audience. SHIMADA Hiroyuki, Managing Director/CEO of JCCU, representing the organizers greeted the audience by stating, "Today, the risk of nuclear war is higher than ever before. Therefore, I believe it is essential to expand the reach of our Peace Action efforts and appeal to the society even more. Please convey what you have felt by participating in this event to as many people as possible."
Following this, the brass bands of KASSUI Junior High School & High School delivered a performance to convey their hopes for peace. Afterward, WADA Seiko, Deputy Director of the Japan Confederation of A and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, shared a lecture that touched on her personal experiences, emphasizing her passionate commitment to nuclear abolition and the significance of persistently advocating for it.
Members of the " Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Messengers and 10000 high school student signature campaign " reported on their activities and staged a peace song performance. Reports on peace activities attended by co-op staff and consumer co-op members nationwide were also presented.
Following that, TANAKA Shigemitsu, Chairman of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, shared his own experiences as a survivor of the atomic bombing and delivered a heartfelt speech expressing his strong desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Students from an elementary school chorus group then sang a song expressing their wish for peace.
HONDA Minoru, Chairman of the Nagasaki Prefecture Consumers' Co-operative Union, stated, "The average age of Hibakusha is now 85 years old, and a world without Hibakusha is approaching rapidly. We must learn from the experiences and thoughts of Hibakusha and convey them to the people around us. We, as consumer co-ops, should continue to promote peace activities at the citizen level, so that we will never be involved in a tragic war again."
Section Meetings
Testimonies from Hibakusha, as well as reading events of A-bomb experiences by volunteer readers with the aim of passing down these experiences, were conducted. Additionally, the 'Peace Town Walk,' which had not been held for four years, took place with students serving as peace guides, visiting the Nagasaki Hypocenter Park and the Urakami Cathedral.
Children's Peace Conference
An "Online Children's Peace Summit" brought together 56 individuals spanning from elementary school pupils to university students. During this event, participants delved into topics like peace, conflicts, and the devastating impact of nuclear weapons, particularly atomic bombings. They were then organized into smaller groups for interactive discussions. The resulting appeal statement, shaped by the perspectives of these groups, declared, "To prevent the tragic events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from repeating, we commit to not only educating ourselves about the historical bombings but also employing various communities and tools to ensure that the memories and records are passed down from one generation to another." This declaration was delivered by a representative on the Rainbow Stage.
