2025 Peace Action in Nagasaki held

2025.10.16

From August 7th to 8th, 2025, the Nagasaki Prefecture Consumers' Cooperative Union and JCCU jointly held the "2025 Peace Action in Nagasaki," with approximately 1,900 participants, including online attendees from across Japan.

Peace Action is a unique initiative by consumer co-ops that encourages reflection on peace through a wide range of themes, such as passing on the war and A-bomb experiences, global wars and conflicts, military base issues, and the Constitution. Study lectures and exchange meetings are held every year in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Okinawa. In Nagasaki, the initiative began in 1978 with the co-op's original gathering, "Niji-no Hiroba" ("Rainbow stage"). This later developed into the Nagasaki Action, which was renamed "Peace Action in Nagasaki" in 2004, and this year marks its 48th anniversary.

This year, to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing and the post-war period, a total of twelve events were held with a focus on passing the legacy to the next generation. These events included initiatives involving young people engaged in peace activities, as well as lectures by individuals dedicated to sharing and preserving the experiences of atomic bomb survivors.

・Future Peace Activities

Professor WATANAVE Hidenori from the University of Tokyo Graduate School, who is conducting joint research with JCCU on CO･OP PEACE MAP, introduced projects using technology, including digital archives, to preserve and pass on the memories of war to future generations. This year, participants had the opportunity to hear from storyteller Ms. ARAKI Chihiro and to explore and experience the digital archive firsthand.

(Left) A talk by storyteller Ms. ARAKI Chihiro

(Right) Professor WATANAVE Hidenori from the University of Tokyo Graduate School explaining the hypocenter using a 3D map

・[Youth Program] "NEXT PEACE" Panel Discussion on Peace Activities

A panel discussion was held with groups of young people engaged in peace activities and high school peace ambassadors. The themes included "What we can do for the future," "Changes and reflections after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize," and "How to pass on the memories of war and nuclear weapons."

Scenes from the "NEXT PEACE" Panel Discussion on Peace Activities

・Children's Peace Conference

The Children's Peace Conference invited young participants, --tomorrow's leaders--, to engage in workshops and preparatory sessions to learn about and reflect on peace. This year, children could also participate online, and appeal statements were created for both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The ideas shared during the conference were later compiled by the chairing committee and presented as official appeal statements during the "Niji no Hiroba (Rainbow stage)" segment of Peace Action in Nagasaki on August 8.

Excerpt from the Appeal Statement

A boy who participated from Saitama Prefecture said, "This is the first time I've learned about the "Black Rain*."

Those of us in Nagasaki were surprised, assuming that everyone would naturally know about the "Black Rain." Later, however, the boy shared information about the Kumagaya Air Raid in Saitama, which I didn't know about either. It made me realize how easy it is to assume that others already know certain things or that I am well-informed about a particular topic--such as the realities of the atomic bombing.

This understanding only came through actual exchange and discussion, reminding me of the importance of dialogue and the need to keep learning. Through interacting with elementary school students, I also learned that perspectives on war and peace differ depending on age.

Furthermore, whether someone is interested in peace or not, engaging with people who hold different views can lead to new insights--helping us expand and enrich our own understanding.

From now on, why not continue exchanging ideas with people of different ages and perspectives?

*"Black rain" refers to the radioactive rain mixed with dust and soot that fell after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Scenes from the Children's Peace Conference

・Niji-no Hiroba (Rainbow stage)

Rainbow stage is the climactic event of Peace Action in Nagasaki, attracting approximately 1,400 participants from across the country, including online attendees.

On behalf of the organizers, ARAI Chitose, President of JCCU, delivered a greeting, saying, "From now on, together with our friends across the country, we want to continue creating spaces where we can reflect on and discuss peace in our daily lives, expand circles of dialogue and empathy, and share these experiences with local communities."

Following greetings from distinguished guests, Mr. AWAMURA Koichi, Director of the Nagasaki City Atomic Bomb Survivors Measures Department, and Mr. MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor of Hiroshima (via video message), the program featured a lecture by actress Ms. SAITO Tomoko, who has continued interacting with atomic bomb survivors, including those with A-bomb-induced microcephaly, presentations by local high school students on their activities, testimonies from survivors, and choral performances.