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Message
It is my pleasure to be able to present a message on the occasion of this performance in the United States of America by the Hiroshima Boys' Choir.
Hiroshima, with its experience of the first atomic bombing in the history of humankind as a starting point, has continued to endeavor for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace. However, chains of hatred, violence, and retaliation remain unbroken in regions across the globe. Vast numbers of nuclear weapons are still in existence, along with even the heightened possibility that such a weapon will be used, and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference held in May 2005 came to a close without making achievements toward their elimination.
In response the City of Hiroshima, along with other cities, individuals, and NGOs around the world, acting centrally through the Mayors for Peace organization representing 1,285 member cities, is carrying out an "Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons," aimed at the abolition of these weapons by 2020. We have declared the period until August 9 of this year "Year of Inheritance, Awakening and Commitment." During this period, working with many nations, NGOs, and the world's people, we plan to launch a great diversity of campaigns for nuclear weapons abolition in numerous cities throughout the world.
The Hiroshima Boys' Choir, the members of which will be displaying their beautiful singing voices during this concert, was founded in Hiroshima in 1960 with the aims of "cultivating the pure singing voices of boys and contributing to the development of Hiroshima, an Peace Culture City, through choral music." Since this time they have performed both within and outside of Japan. At present 50 boys from Hiroshima City and surrounding areas, students from first grade through high school, gather at the group's rigorous practice sessions. I hope that all in attendance will give this group which traveled from Hiroshima a warm welcome, and deepen grassroots-level bonds of friendship and widen the circle of and peace through this concert.
In closing, I wish for the success of this
concert and the good health of all in attendance, hope that
friendship and goodwill between Hiroshima and your city will further
deepen.
Tadatoshi Akiba Mayor The City of Hiroshima February 21, 2006
Tadatoshi
Akiba, Mayor Phone: 082-504-2106 Fax: 082-249-6460 Email: kokusai@city.hiroshima,jp
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