Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are visiting the southwestern city of Nagasaki with their daughter, Princess Aiko. The Imperial couple expressed their condolences to the victims of the atomic bomb, and their deep respect for those who survived.
On Friday, the family bowed and offered flowers at a memorial in Nagasaki Peace Park for people who died as a result of the 1945 attack.
They also met four survivors aged 81 to 101 at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, and two people in their 20s who convey the stories of those who experienced the bombing but are advancing in age.
The Imperial couple later released a message expressing their condolences to the victims and their sympathy for the people of Nagasaki. They also renewed their commitment to peace.
The Emperor and Empress expressed their deep respect for the survivors, who use their painful experiences to stress the importance of peace.
They also said it is important to pass on those testimonies to future generations, and expressed their appreciation for the efforts of young people to tell the stories of those who survived.
Princess Aiko is visiting Nagasaki for the first time. The Imperial couple said she was able to truly grasp the devastation caused by the atomic bomb. They also said she has taken the people of Nagasaki’s strong desire for peace to heart.
The family is set to meet more atomic bomb survivors at a nursing care facility on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Emperor and Empress will visit Sasebo City in Nagasaki Prefecture. They are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the National Cultural Festival and the National Arts and Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities.
AloJapan.com