Seventy-five years ago, a single atomic bomb instantaneously turned the city of Hiroshima into ruins, and took the precious lives of many. Today, the city has achieved a remarkable recovery, and its citizens are able to live full lives. At the same time, there are many hibakusha who even today are still suffering, from the aftereffects of radiation and other issues. They continue their plea that "No one else should ever suffer as we have" as they pass on their experiences and their message of peace to the younger generations. The average age of the hibakusha is now over 83, and the question of how to pass on their atomic bombing experience is becoming a serious issue. 　For this reason, this Foundation is working together with the City of Hiroshima and implementing various initiatives to pass on the message of the hibakusha to the next generations.
　At the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, there are displays of not only possessions but also photographs of the deceased and letters written by their bereaved families, to encourage visitors to the museum to think about the suffering and sorrow of the hibakusha and bereaved families as individuals. The museum also shows displays of the damage caused by radiation, to demonstrate the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Additionally, A-Bomb Legacy Successors have been trained to pass on the experience of the hibakusha and their wishes for peace, and to communicate these to future generations in place of the hibakusha. They conduct their activities not only in Japan but are also dispatched overseas. The museum is also working together with the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims to record atomic bomb testimonial videos of the hibakusha talking about their experiences, and to collect atomic bombing written testimonials.
　We will continue to enhance virtual activities like this as we pursue our activities to ensure that the next generation of young people also understand the message of the hibakusha 　With the rise of nationalism throughout the world today, there is heightened tension between nations arising from actions based on exclusivism and confrontational thought. The international situation concerning nuclear weapons is thus extremely unstable and unpredictable. Currently, the world's nuclear weapon states possess approximately 13,000 nuclear weapons. There is a risk that such weapons could be used in unintentional accidents or terrorist acts, and we can only say that the situation is far from the appeals of the hibakusha and other citizens. To break with the current dependence on nuclear deterrence by states, and reset the course towards nuclear disarmament, it is necessary for national leaders to create an environment that enables courageous policy shifts, namely to form common values for civic society.
　This Foundation aims to spread pacifism and promote international mutual understanding and cooperation, and to contribute to the promotion of world peace from the perspective of all of humanity. Mayors for Peace, of which I am the President and which this Foundation serves as secretariat, is based on the shared values (the true wish) of civic society to ensure a safe and secure life for their citizens. It is a bipartisan organization made up of the heads of local governments that have as their mission to fulfill that wish, and it shares its philosophy with this Foundation. Using the network of Mayors of Peace, which now has over 7,900 member cities from 164 countries and regions, we are holding activities to form a consensus among the global civic community that a world without nuclear weapons is the peaceful world that humankind should aim for in the future. We do this by communicating the reality of the atomic bombing and thus increasing the number of people who empathize with the wishes of the hibakusha. This consensus of civic society will become the key for creating an environment that will enable national leaders to take major steps toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.
　United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "The only real way to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate nuclear weapons." We will strengthen our connections with the United Nations, which shares our aspirations, and work towards further enhancing the Mayors for Peace activities. 　The world is now struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, whose impact is being felt in international exchange and cooperation activities with restrictions on international travel. However, I believe that deepening our mutual understanding of each other's religion and culture is the first step toward creating a peaceful world, and that developing a culture of peace among people becomes a solid foundation for a peaceful society. To do so, this Foundation is focused on international exchange, mutual cooperation and multicultural coexistence, and at the same time aims to work proactively on the promotion of international exchange activities and heightening citizens' awareness of the importance of international peace by providing day-to-day living consultation and information for foreign residents.
　I ask for your ongoing understanding and support for this Foundation's activities.