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I was invited to attend the ceremony on 22 August hosted by the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo United Nations Pavilion and the luncheon hosted by the Expo Association. Mr. Katsura and Mr. Takai also attended the ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Her Imperial Highness Princess Tsuguko, followed by opening remarks by Miyaji Takuma, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and a speech by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General. The program included a video performance of Yo-Yo Ma’s cello playing, a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” by the UN Orchestra, and a choral performance by the Osaka Kwansei Gakuin University Mixed Chorus.

I was able to greet Secretary-General Guterres and Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki of the Japanese Mission to the United Nations for the first time in a year. At the luncheon hosted by the Expo Association that followed, I had the opportunity to greet many prominent figures, including Aizawa Ichiro, a member of the House of Representatives, whom I do not usually have the chance to meet. After the luncheon, Secretary-General Guterres visited the UN Pavilion and viewed the UN Peace Bell. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ichikawa Naomi of the UN Pavilion and Fukuhara Koji of the Expo Association for their kind consideration. 

　　　

 

On 19 and 20 July, six students from Uwajima Higashi School gave presentations at the Osaka-Kansai Expo on the peace activities of Nakagawa Chiyoji, former mayor of Uwajima and the man who presented the Peace Bell to the United Nations in 1954.

The presentations were given twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon in the event room inside the UN pavilion, with each of the three students taking turns giving an excellent presentation. One afternoon presentation was given in front of the UN Pavilion using a handmade board.

In his greeting, Maher Nasser, the representative of the UN Pavilion, praised the work of Nakagawa Chiyoji. Takase Seiko, the representative Director of the Association for the Preservation of UN Bell, also gave a speech each time and continued to share Nakagawa’s thoughts and feelings.

Many people attended each event, listened attentively, and rang the Peace Bell. We felt that they understood the peace movement of Nakagawa Chiyoji. We would like to thank Kusu Kazuhito and　Tsuzuki Karin of Uwajima Higashi School for their great support. Many members of the Association, including the directors and auditors, also participated to support the high school students.

We are sincerely grateful to the staff of the UN Pavilion for their cooperation and concern, and for creating this opportunity for us.

　　　　　　　

On September 21, 2020, the 4th ringing ceremony of Peace Bell was held in the Osaka EXPO Memorial Park under the clear sky.

Although there was concern about coronavirus infection, this ceremony was carried out with the understanding of Osaka Prefecture government on the International Day of Peace.

Initially we wanted to make this ceremony small because of coronavirus, but ended up with about 30 attendees, more people than we initially anticipated.

In addition, there was a surpre; encounter with Hashigo Nakamura, a Narikomaya kabuki actor,who performed a special kabuki play “Heiwaninareya Inoruwakonokane.” ( “Aspire to Peace with this Bell.”)

Finally he shouted “Do not grudge against others, but do love,” which sounded as if Chiyoji Nakagawa was shouting, and I felt tears flew.

He also joined the ringing ceremony held simultaneously throughout Japan,and the Bell in Osaka EXPO Park, a sister bell of the UN Peace Bell, was rung towards the world.

We did all measures to fight against coronavirus; checking body tempreture, disinfect hands, installing smart phone application COCOA, registering to the corona tracking system of Osaka prefecture, and interview.

These cumbersom measures were kindly accepted by attendees, and the solemn and touching bell ringing ceremony was successfuly concluded.

I cordially thank you all concerned parties.

On October 27, 2019, an autumn clear day, the third ceremony of ringing the Peace Bell was held in the Expo’70 Commemorative Park in Osaka under full cooperation by Osaka Prefectural Government.

Honorable guests included Governor of Osaka Hirofumi Yoshimura, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in charge of Kansai Region Jota Yamamoto, as well as Osaka Prefectural Board of Education, Member of Osaka Prefectural Assembly, Chairman of Suita City Board of Education, Member of Suita City Assembly, Member of Kamakura City Assembly, and Office Manager of Osaka Expo’70 Commemorative Park. Local elementary school boys and girls helped the reception desk as volunteers.

Children in wheelchair from local facilities for disables joined the ceremony and rang the Peace Bell.
Total seventy members and supporters of our association from Shikoku, Kansai and Kanto regions attended the ceremony.

The first UN Peace Bell Concert started in Nihombashi

On November 16, 2019, a music concert for peace was held in a hall on the eighth floor of the Nihombashi Community Education Center.

The concert was organized jointly by the Association for the Preservation of the UN Peace Bell and a chorus group focused on spiritual hometown.

The Peace Bell of the UN Headquarters was presented in 1954 as the only gift from Japan. It has existed since then as a symbol for world peace.

The concert was an opportunity to learn about the footsteps of a Japanese man, Cahiyoji Nakagawa, his courageous act and aspiration for world peace. He visited single-handedly the UN soon after WWII to express the importance of the world peace.

The rich program of the concert lasted for two hours. The stage and the audence was one, leaving everyone with touching impression.

On September 20, 2019, people with flags of nations in hands gathered in the Japanese Garden of the United Nations headquarters where the Peace Bell exists. The delegation from Japan attended the solemn ceremony. Attendees were Seiko Takase, Representative Director, Association for the Preservation of the UN Peace Bell, and four members, namely Kaori Fujioka, Yoshimasa Kadota, Yoshiaki Ishizuka and Kenjiro Takase. António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, UN Secretary-General, urged the crisis around the world due to climate change, and rang the Peace Bell. The Peace Bell becomes even more important when the world is moving toward homelandism. Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed Guterres and rang the Bell. After the ceremony, Ambassador Koro Bessho together with President Muhammad-Bande, a Nigerian, walked up to us and introduced us to the President. We shook hands with nice smile. Per request by UN, Seiko Takase gave the UN tour guides a lecture on origin of the Peace Bell and Chiyoji Nakagawa’s aspiration. Our members joined the UN Tour on the following day and were very pleased to find that the guide wholeheartedly and politely explained about the Peace Bell.