Memorial ceremony held in Hiroshima

On the morning of August 6, Hiroshima City's "Peace Memorial Ceremony" was held to mark the 57th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, an occasion for Hiroshima citizens and the Japanese people to pay tribute to the victims of the world's first nuclear war and renew their determination for "No More Hiroshimas."

A Peace Declaration was delivered by Akiba Tadatoshi, mayor of Hiroshima, during the ceremony in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims.

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro and Hiroshima Governor Fujita Yuzan gave speeches. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's message was read.

A list of names of atomic bomb victims who died during the past year was dedicated to the cenotaph. With the added number of 4,977 included, the number of those who were killed by the first atomic bomb totals 226,870. (end)