Japan holds memorial services and peace exhibitions

Various memorial events and exhibitions are being held across Japan to honor war victims and promote peace.

In Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, a memorial service was held at Galleria Kameoka to mourn more than 1,600 citizens who died during World War II. During the ceremony, a junior high school student delivered a reading, noting that seeing photographs at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum made the concept of peace feel personal.

In Higashinaruse Village, Akita Prefecture, the ‘Peace Prayer Exhibition’ is being held at the Iwaigawa Community Exchange Center until September 14. The exhibition uses photo panels and paintings to convey the damage caused by the atomic bombings in Hiroshima. The event includes poetry readings and choral performances by local volunteers.