Visitors to the memorial park for Hiroshima's atomic bombing said Saturday they hoped Friday's Nobel Peace Prize for Japan's atomic bomb survivors would boost efforts for world peace and spur world leaders to visit the site.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize to the Nihon Hidankyo group, representing survivors of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its decades-long efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.
"As Japanese people, I believe we need to ensure that the same thing doesn't happen again," Ui Torisawa, a 21-year-old student who was visiting the Peace Memorial Park with her friend, told Reuters. "Since Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bombings, and because similar things could be repeated in other countries, I think Japan is probably in the best position to stop that."
August next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the bombings. It is likely to draw focus on the legacy of its survivors, known as hibakusha, and could set off a renewed debate about nuclear weapons.
Yasuhiro Suzuki, who was visiting the Peace Memorial Park with his wife, son and daughter from Fukuoka Prefecture, called it "groundbreaking" that the group representing the atomic bomb survivors was awarded the Nobel Peace Price.
"Nuclear power is incredibly beneficial to the world, but we must be careful not to misuse it," Suzuki said. "I hope this becomes an opportunity for people around the world to think about various aspects of this issue."
Hiroshima's peace park has long drawn not just Japanese visitors but also foreigners, including world leaders such as Barack Obama, who spoke at the site as U.S. president in 2016 and hugged a tearful hibakusha.
"I believe there are still many prime ministers and leaders in the world who could come (to Japan), and I hope they will make the effort to visit," said Hiroshima resident Hirokazu Tanabe, who works as a driver and who came to the park to show around a friend.
Twenty-two-year-old student Ayane Takiguchi, who visited the park with Torisawa, said it was an honor the group representing atomic bomb victims was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
"I am studying education, and I've recently recognized the importance of achieving peace through education," she said. "In that sense, I'm happy that this has such a big impact."
© Thomson Reuters 2024.
5 Comments
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TaiwanIsNotChina
I mean they would say that at that location, wouldn't they?
Agent_Neo
It is hard to imagine that countries like China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and North Korea will give up their nuclear weapons.
If we are aiming for a nuclear-free peace, something needs to be done about these countries.
OssanAmerica
The problem with the anti-nuclear weapons movement is that the only countries that are listening at all are nations that either don't posess nukes or have nukes but would never stoop so low as to threaten others with their use.
The autocratic nations don't give a rodent's behind. And as long as they exist, the sensible nuclear nations aren't about to unilaterally disarm themselves.
Hello Kitty 321
@Aget neo
it is equally difficult to imagine countries like the US, Israel, UK or Ftance giving up their nuclear weapons.
elephant200
@Agent_Neo Please tell Mr. NETANYAHU to admit his country is nuclear armed !
SapperJon
Having visited in May, I was very moved by the experience all except for the museum, which was the worst experience my wife and I have ever had visiting a museum. You couldn't see any of the exhibits as you shuffled along in a hot, humid mass of schoolchildren and adults. It was so crowded that all we wanted to do was get out. Fortunately, the exhibit area is a relatively short corridor.
I was also struck by the lack of history about why an atomic bomb was initially dropped, yes tens of thousands of people were killed and maimed but think of the death toll on both sides if the Americans had needed to invade. I do think the second bomb was dropped too soon after the first, not giving the leaders time to gather reports to assess the likely outcome if they hadn't surrendered.
One thing is out of all the gardens we have visited in Japan over the years the one in Hiroshima was the most beautiful.