Report by Ms. Lorena Schlicht, Mayors for Peace France (AFCDRP)
On May 15, 2025, the City of Montpellier welcomed a rare and moving voice for peace: Mr. Satoshi Tanaka, 81, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and representative of Nihon Hidankyo, awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its decades-long commitment to nuclear disarmament.
Just one year old when the bomb exploded 900 meters from his home, Mr. Tanaka lost most of his family and has since carried the legacy of the Hibakusha—those directly affected by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
His visit to the Hérault region, organized in collaboration with a local coalition including Le Mouvement de la Paix and Mayors for Peace France, included a talk at Nevers High School, a peace rally in Sète, and a post-film discussion at the Comœdia cinema.
Alongside fellow activist Koichiro Maeda, Mr. Tanaka warned of today’s growing nuclear threats, stressing that “the atomic bomb is not only a matter of the past, but also of the present and future.”
In a time of escalating global tensions, his message is urgent: France, as a nuclear power, must assume its responsibility in working toward global disarmament. “We must hate the crime, not the people,” he reminded us—an appeal to peace through memory, humanity, and action.
His testimony resonated deeply with local citizens, students, and elected officials, many of whom emphasized the importance of transmitting these living memories to younger generations. Events like this, supported by Mayors for Peace France, help turn remembrance into a collective civic commitment for a world without nuclear weapons.
Photos: courtesy of Mayors for Peace France