Peace activist Sekiya Ayako dies

A central figure in the Japanese Movement against A and H Bombs, Sekiya Ayako died of aortic aneurysm in a Tokyo hospital on October 13. She was 87.

Sekiya, former chair of the YWCA of Japan, has been a member of the Committee of Chairpersons of the World Conference against A and H Bombs since 1986.

Sekiya also has served as a standing coordinator of the Association for a Non-Nuclear Government and as the representative of the Liaison Committee of Japanese Religious NGOs for Nuclear Disarmament. (end)