Address from Consul General Takaoka: ‘Hiroshima Ginkgo Trees for peace’ planting ceremony at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh
2020/8/10
Lord Provost, Mr. Fry, ladies and gentlemen,
My name is Takaoka Nozomu, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh.
On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I would like to thank Mr. Fry and the representatives of the Royal Botanic Garden for taking very good care of the precious seeds from a Japanese gingko tree, which survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima exactly 75 years ago today.
Thanks to your dedication and nurturement, as well as the incredible power of life which resided in its seeds, today, we can plant them in the hope that trees will grow with a beautiful golden foliage for many years to come in this world famous garden, established 350 years ago.
This is particularly significant because these Gingko trees give us great hope that life is strong and can regenerate, as Covid-19 takes its heavy toll across the world, and because they spread the spirit of world peace at this critical juncture when international cooperation is urgently needed.
In concluding, I would like to pass on some of the remarks made at the Peace Memorial Ceremony held this morning in Hiroshima.
“As the only country to have experienced nuclear devastation, this is our unchanging mission to step by step and steadily advance the efforts by the international community for a world free from nuclear weapons.” - Abe Shinzo, the Prime Minister of Japan.
“On August 6, 1945, a single atomic bomb destroyed our city. Rumor at the time had it that “nothing will grow here for 75 years.” And yet, Hiroshima recovered, becoming a symbol of peace visited by millions from around the world. ”
“At this Peace Memorial Ceremony marking 75 years since the bombing, we offer heartfelt prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of the atomic bomb victims. Together with Nagasaki and likeminded people around the world, we pledge to do everything in our power to abolish nuclear weapons and open a path to genuine and lasting world peace.” - Matsui Kazumi, Mayor of the City of Hiroshima
Thank you all once again for joining us in prayer for world peace.
My name is Takaoka Nozomu, the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh.
On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I would like to thank Mr. Fry and the representatives of the Royal Botanic Garden for taking very good care of the precious seeds from a Japanese gingko tree, which survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima exactly 75 years ago today.
Thanks to your dedication and nurturement, as well as the incredible power of life which resided in its seeds, today, we can plant them in the hope that trees will grow with a beautiful golden foliage for many years to come in this world famous garden, established 350 years ago.
This is particularly significant because these Gingko trees give us great hope that life is strong and can regenerate, as Covid-19 takes its heavy toll across the world, and because they spread the spirit of world peace at this critical juncture when international cooperation is urgently needed.
In concluding, I would like to pass on some of the remarks made at the Peace Memorial Ceremony held this morning in Hiroshima.
“As the only country to have experienced nuclear devastation, this is our unchanging mission to step by step and steadily advance the efforts by the international community for a world free from nuclear weapons.” - Abe Shinzo, the Prime Minister of Japan.
“On August 6, 1945, a single atomic bomb destroyed our city. Rumor at the time had it that “nothing will grow here for 75 years.” And yet, Hiroshima recovered, becoming a symbol of peace visited by millions from around the world. ”
“At this Peace Memorial Ceremony marking 75 years since the bombing, we offer heartfelt prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of the atomic bomb victims. Together with Nagasaki and likeminded people around the world, we pledge to do everything in our power to abolish nuclear weapons and open a path to genuine and lasting world peace.” - Matsui Kazumi, Mayor of the City of Hiroshima
Thank you all once again for joining us in prayer for world peace.