天皇てんのう皇后こうごう両りょう陛下へいか 広島ひろしま訪問ほうもん 20日にちも被爆ひばく者しゃと懇談こんだんへ

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress are visiting Hiroshima, the site of the atomic bombing, for the first time since the Emperors accession to the throne.

On the first day, the 19th, marking 80 years since the end of the war, flowers were offered at the atomic bomb memorial to honor the war dead, and there was a meeting with atomic bomb survivors and others.

Their Majesties arrived at Hiroshima Airport on a special plane before noon on the 19th, and in the afternoon, they visited Peace Park in Hiroshima City.

This was the first time Their Majesties visited the atomic-bombed site since the Emperors accession to the throne. After bowing in front of the memorial monument, which holds the registry of over 340,000 atomic bomb victims, they offered flowers to console the souls of the victims.

This time, during their visit to symbolic sites of the last war on the occasion of the 80th anniversary since the end of World War II, Their Majesties inspected a newly established exhibition facility of atomic bombed remains in the park, which was built three years ago. After viewing the exhibits at the Atomic Bomb Museum, they had a conversation with storytellers who share the experiences of atomic bomb survivors on their behalf, as many survivors have become elderly.

Their Majesties will visit an atomic bomb survivors’ nursing home in the city on the 20th to talk with the survivors. They will also visit Asaminami Ward, which suffered extensive damage from a major landslide caused by torrential rain 11 years ago, to see the sabo embankment built to prevent debris flows and view the exhibits at the Heavy Rain Disaster Memorial Museum, where they will receive explanations about the progress of the reconstruction.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress express their impressions of visiting Hiroshima On the night of the 19th, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress conveyed through their aides their impressions of visiting Hiroshima, the city that suffered the atomic bombing, in this milestone year marking 80 years since the end of the war.

In this context, Their Majesties, by offering flowers at the Atomic Bomb Memorial, expressed their condolences to those who lost their lives in the atomic bombing 80 years ago, reflected on the hardships endured by the people of Hiroshima, and renewed their commitment to peace. Looking back on their visits to the exhibition facility of atomic bomb remains and the Atomic Bomb Museum, they said, We were deeply pained by the tragedy of the atomic bomb damage conveyed through each exhibit and photograph.

In addition, they stated, I was able to deepen my understanding of the state of Hiroshima and its people before and after the bombing, and to truly feel the reality of the atomic bomb damage.

On top of that, after listening to the stories of those who were affected by the atomic bombing, I was able to get a glimpse of the hardships you all experienced, and as I reflected on your struggles, I felt deep respect for the way you have overcome adversity and continue to share your painful experiences and the importance of peace with others.

Furthermore, he mentioned, I also spoke with young people who are engaged in passing down the experiences of atomic bomb survivors, and I found it very meaningful that those of your generation, who have not experienced war, are making great efforts to carefully share the hardships endured by the survivors.