広島原爆６３回式典

(Mainichi Japan) August 6, 2008

Thousands mark 63rd anniversary of atomic bombing of Hiroshima

広島原爆忌：６３回目迎え、４万５０００人が祈り

 

A woman holds her hands in prayer in front of a memorial for the atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima's Naka-ku on Wednesday.

HIROSHIMA -- Thousands marked the 63rd anniversary of the Aug. 6, 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima at a ceremony in the city on Wednesday, joined by a record number of foreign ambassadors.

In Japan, the government has been questioned over its stance on recognizing atomic bomb-related diseases, and atomic-bomb survivors, or hibakusha, that have suffered mentally from their experiences of the bombing and physical aftereffects that can appear after many years. They have also been hurt by a lack of understanding and interest from the people around them.

During the commemoration on Wednesday, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba read out a peace declaration asserting a renewal of determination that no one else should suffer the same hardships as those undergone by hibakusha.

Ambassadors from 55 countries -- a record number -- took part in the memorial ceremony that started at the peace memorial park in Hiroshima's Naka-ku at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. China, a country that possesses nuclear weapons, made an appearance at the ceremony for the first time.

Altogether, about 45,000 people took part in the ceremony. Akiba and two representatives of the bereaved families of atomic-bomb victims enshrined two books containing the names of 5,302 hibakusha whose deaths were confirmed over the past year. With the addition, there are now 93 books containing the names of 258,310 people who died.

The average age of hibakusha in Japan passed 75 for the first time this year. The peace declaration stated that the effects of the atomic bombing that still affect hibakusha physically and mentally has been underestimated for many years. The declaration stated that the Hiroshima Municipal Government has promised to conduct a two-year scientific investigation into the psychological effects of the atomic bomb experience.

In addition, the declaration mentioned that 190 states have ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and pointed out that the countries opposing nuclear weapons formed a majority.

During the commemoration ceremony, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue and other officials offered flowers. At 8:15 a.m., the same minute the bomb struck, participants observed a minute of silence.

Also at the ceremony, children read out a declaration of peace, promising to learn about what happened in Hiroshima, to think about the events and inform others about them."

 

Ｗｏｒｄｓ and Phrases:

holds her hands in prayer＝手を合わせて祈りを捧げる

foreign ambassadors＝外国大使.

recognizing＝認知する、認識する

suffered mentally＝精神的に障害を被る

physical aftereffects＝肉体的な後遺症

by a lack of understanding and interest＝理解と関心の少なさのために

commemoration＝記念式典

peace declaration=平和宣言

asserting＝主張する、断言する

memorial ceremony=記念式典

peace memorial park=平和記念公園

bereaved families＝遺族、残された家族

enshrined＝葬る、埋葬する、納骨する

containing＝～を含む

passed＝～を超過する

The peace declaration＝平和宣言

physically and mentally＝肉体的および精神的に

underestimated＝過小評価する

conduct＝実施する

psychological effects of the atomic bomb experience＝原爆の後遺症.

ratified＝条約を批准する

the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty＝核拡散防止条約

formed a majority=大多数をしめる

commemoration ceremony＝記念式典

offered flowers＝花束をささげる

the same minute the bomb struck＝原爆投下の時間に,

participants observed a minute of silence＝一分間の黙とうをささげる.

declaration of peace＝平和宣言

 

広島原爆忌：６３回目迎え、４万５０００人が祈り

 

被爆地・広島は６日、６３回目の原爆の日を迎えた。北京五輪という「平和の祭典」の開幕が２日後に迫る中、核軍縮を巡る国際情勢は依然として厳しい。国内では、原爆症認定についての国の姿勢が問われている。いつ発症するか分からない後障害と原爆体験による心の傷に加え、周囲の無理解と無関心は被爆者を一層苦しめてきた。広島市の秋葉忠利市長は平和宣言で、８月６日を「『こんな思いを他の誰にもさせない』ための決意を新たにする日」と位置づけた。

同市中区の平和記念公園で午前８時から行われた平和記念式典には、過去最多となる５５カ国の駐日大使らが参列。核保有国では中国が初参加した。

全国の被爆者の平均年齢は今年初めて７５歳を超えた。平和宣言は、「被爆者の心身を今なお苛（さいな）む原爆の影響は永年にわたり過小評価され」てきたと指摘。原爆体験の精神的影響などについて、広島市が２年をかけて科学的調査することを表明した。数々の悲劇と苦悩を踏まえ、「核兵器は廃絶されることにだけ意味がある」と訴えた。

また、国際情勢では、米国の核政策の中枢を担ってきたキッシンジャー元国務長官らが昨年以降、米の新聞に核兵器廃絶を提言、核による安全論からの転換を呼びかけたほか、１９０カ国が核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）を批准している事実などを挙げ、「核兵器の廃絶を求める私たちが多数派」だと強調した。

式典には約４万５０００人が参加。秋葉市長と遺族代表２人が、この１年間に死亡、または死亡が確認された被爆者５３０２人の名簿２冊を原爆慰霊碑下の奉安箱に納めた。原爆死没者名簿は計９３冊、死没者数は計２５万８３１０人になった。

福田康夫首相、田上富久・長崎市長らが献花。原爆投下時刻の午前８時１５分、参列者は１分間の黙とうをささげた。こども代表として、小学６年の本堂壮太君（１２）と今井穂花さん（１１）が「ヒロシマで起きた事実に学び、知り、考え、たくさんの人に伝えます」と、「平和への誓い」を読み上げた。【大沢瑞季】

 

毎日新聞　2008年8月6日　11時23分（最終更新　8月6日　13時42分）