Prince Hisahito visits Hiroshima, lays flowers at atomic bomb memorial

Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino, made his first official visit to Hiroshima on 7 August. Accompanied by the city mayor, he arrived at the Peace Memorial Park, placed a white chrysanthemum bouquet at the Atomic Bomb Memorial and bowed in tribute to the victims of the 1945 bombing.

The visit was linked to the Japan Scout Jamboree, where about 8,000 scouts from Japan and abroad are gathered. In the afternoon Prince Hisahito is scheduled to give his first public speech at the jamboree, a ceremony also attended by Emperor Naruhito. He will also tour the nearby Peace Museum and the historic Honkawa Elementary School site.