Report by Evelyn Kamissek, Office for International Affairs, the City of Hannover
The City of Hannover, a Vice-President City of Mayors for Peace and the Lead City of the German Chapter, annually commemorates the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a twin city of Hannover’s. The Cultural Office of Hannover invited citizens to various events held on August 5 and 6 to observe the 74th anniversary of the bombing.
At Aegidien Church, with a striking of the Peace Bell, participants renewed their commitment to prevent the same tragedy from happening again. Representatives of different religions offered prayers and meditation.
Also held as part of commemorative events were: a traditional Japanese tea ceremony conducted by a tea master and cultural ambassador of the City of Hiroshima, and a photo exhibition by a photographer Thomas Damm titled ‘Black Rain Hibakusha – Children of the Black Rain’, which will run until October 2. The exhibition features large format photographs of hibakusha who still suffer from the radioactive fallout – called black rain – of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. A live report from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony was brought to Hannover’s Town Hall by youth participants of the International Youth Conference for Peace in the Future.
To close the day of reminder and remembrance of August 6, lantern floating ceremony was held at the pond behind the Town Hall.
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| Traditional Japanese tea ceremony | Photo exhibit ‘Black Rain Hibakusha – Children of the Black Rain’ |
| (Photos courtesy of the City of Hannover) | |