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Peace Boat Hosts Visit from Norwegian Nobel Committee
Peace Boat had the honour of hosting representatives from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Nobel Peace Institute, and Nobel Peace Center during their groundbreaking visit to Japan to honour the work of 2024 Nobel Peace Laureate Nihon Hidankyo (the Japan Confederation of A- and H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations). This marks the first time the Committee has visited the country of a Laureate after their awarding.
During their impactful trip, the delegation visited the A-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, engaged with Nihon Hidankyo members and other Hibakusha, and spoke at the Nobel Peace Prize Conference in Tokyo: Responding to the Threat of Nuclear Arms at Sophia University on July 27.
Amidst a busy schedule, the group made time to visit Peace Boat’s center in Tokyo. Here, they participated in an informal exchange with our dedicated staff and volunteers, discussing ideas for action and collaborations to continue to share the crucial message of the Hibakusha with people worldwide at this critical time, including the continued use of Peace Boat as a venue for the Nobel Peace Center’s “A Message to Humanity” exhibition.
Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, shared a powerful sentiment: “The visit here to Japan has taken us both to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as Tokyo. To see the places where it happened, to talk to the Hibakusha, to feel the power of the place, affects you as a human being. You have understood this a long time ago, when you bring the Hibakusha, you tell the stories, and all of this contributes to the nuclear taboo.”
Peace Boat is committed to continuing to work with Nihon Hidankyo and other partners in Japan and globally, ensuring the vital message of the Hibakusha is shared to maintain and strengthen the nuclear taboo, ensuring that nuclear weapons are never again used and are totally abolished.
Photos: Kataoka Kazushi