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‘Peace City’ councilors here for world peace
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Posted on Aug 10 2005
Twenty-two councilors from Osaka, Japan, are on the island to honor the memory of their countrymen who died during World War II and the group hopes that, through their mission, they will be able to contribute to world peace.
Secretary general and fellow councilor Akinori Daimaru said it was a first for the councilors from Osaka City, dubbed as the Peace City in Japan, to visit Saipan. He said the visit is part of their long-running mission of promoting peace all over the world.
Daimaru said when Osaka City was declared a Peace City 10 years ago, it has become their goal to extend their mission of peace to the world, especially with the ongoing war in Iraq. He said the councilors’ visit is in time for the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing that ended World War II.
He said Saipan is the first city the group has visited to execute their mission. The CNMI is where the first atomic bomb was launched and the group felt it would be a great start for them. “We are taking advantage of this time to solidify our will for peace,” said Daimaru through the translation of fellow councilor Shinji Fukushima.
The group, made up of Osaka city councilors from the Liberal Democratic Party and the Citizen’s Club, arrived Monday afternoon. The group immediately went to the American Memorial Park and offered wreaths for the war dead in the CNMI. Then the group proceeded to the Central War Pacific Memorial, Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff in Marpi, the same monuments that Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited two months ago, to offer flowers and send prayers for peace and promote friendship and goodwill between Japan and the United States
The group also paid a courtesy visit to the office of Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday afternoon where Daimaru again extended his message of peace to the local government.
The delegates stayed at the Hotel Nikko-Saipan and they are scheduled to leave the CNMI today.
