Lecture at an Elementary School in Tama City
On April 29, I gave a talk on the “United Nations Peace Bell” as part of a moral education class at Renkoji Elementary School in Tama City. I had a chance to meet Mr. Sekiguchi, the principal of the school, when he heard me talk about the Peace Bell at a small lecture five years ago. I talked about the UN Peace Bell, which was presented to the UN by a Japanese with passion and courage, and how it has become a symbol of world peace, and about peace.
The students rang a 4 kg replica of the “UN Peace Bell” to pray for peace.
Visit to Russian Embassy
On March 22, Representative Director Takase, Director Katsura, and Director Takai visited the Russian Embassy and presented Ambassador Mikhail Y.Galuzin with a replica of the “United Nations Peace Bell” in hopes for peace.
We explained to the Ambassador about the Peace Bell and gained his understanding. The Ambassador explained in detail for more than an hour the background and history of the current Ukraine issue. We felt the difficulty about war and peace and also the difficulty of equality of information.
The Ambassador said that Russia is also praying for peace, and he rang the Peace Bell and hoped that its sound would reach the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan and the White House.
We also prayed for world peace with the sound of the bell.
Visit to Embassy of Ukraine
On March 18, Representative Director Takase visited the Embassy of Ukraine with Director Katsura. We presented a replica of the “United Nations Peace Bell” as a token of our wish for peace.
This bell weighs 4 kg, cast by melting down coins from around the world, and we held a ceremony at Kamakura Palace to mark the entrance of the bell, just as Chiyoji Nakagawa had done. Together with Minister-Counsellor Dr.Oleksandr Semeniuk, we rang the Peace Bell and prayed for peace to come to Ukraine as soon as possible.
In the reception room of the Ukrainian Embassy, there was a Doraemon donation box collected by Japanese children to support Ukraine, and we felt the children’s wish for peace.
Article of the UN Peace Bell published in San Marino newspaper
We, Association for the Preservation of the UN Peace Bell donated the 90kg child bell of the UN Peace Bell to Republic of San Marino in Jun, 2021.
Before we ship out the Bell to San Marino, we have done an intimacy ceremony at Kamakura shrine with participants. This ritual is an important ceremony that has been held since Peace Bell was sent to the UN Headquarters in 1953.
After the ceremony at Kamakura shrine, we have done announcements in Kyoto HBS Museum and Marunouchi near Tokyo Station. This Peace Bell was sent to San Marino.
The San Marino newspaper published two pages of interview article about history of the UN Peace Bell and the background of donation of San Marino UN Peace Bell.
Many coins donated from many people around the world are kneaded into the Peace Bell. And the gold letters of “世界絶対平和萬歳” are engraved on the bell.as same as the Peace Bell in United Nations Headquarters. 『世界絶対平和萬歳』means “ World Absolute Peace Forever.
We strongly hope that the war will end as soon as possible.
And We pray World Absolute Peace Forever in this moment.
No War in Ukraine!
Right now Russia has sent large army to the bordering areas surrounding Ukraine,
and media report that Russia would initiate invasion into Ukraine very soon.
The opponent forces, USA and NATO, face immediate crisis with Russia.
Once a war initiated, it affects not only confronting parties but other relevant parties as well.
People from Japan and other countries are taking action to evacuate from Ukraine.
It is not difficult to imagine that people in their home country, Ukraine, live uneasy days.
Who on the earth would want to see war happen! That must be weapon merchant, I heard.
War leaves refugees and orphan behind, and widen the gap between rich and poor.
I sincerely hope that leaders of major powers exercise endeavour; Respect sovereignty and
strive for world peace and human happiness.
Thank you, Bov Iliev!
Around the end of year 2021, there was an unexpected mail by Mr. Bov Iliev from Bulgaria,
who asked us whether or not Mr. Chiyoji Nakagawa sent a replica of the UN Peace Bell in 1970.
“He certainly sent the bell,” we replied together with the photo of the presentation ceremony attached.
Bov said that the person in the photo was then the Bulgarian Ambassador.” I will check
the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy to see if there is the bell presented by
Chiyoji,” he said. I was anxious to hear from Bov about his findings.
Yesterday, January 18, 2022, Bov informed us of the official response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying that the bell was not found.
the bell was not found. The result was an unfortunate one, but we appreciate Bov’s efforts.
This episode tells us that Ciyoji’s aspiration for peace and his efforts to present
the peace bell done half a century ago is still alive.
We would be happy to hear that the Chiyoji’s peace bell of 1970 were to be found in the future.
EPSON MFP image
Photo: 1. The gifted bell peace
２．Chiyoji Nakagawa presented the peace bell to Bulgarian Ammbassodor
3. Bulgarian ambassador at the time