In celebration of its upcoming 75th anniversary in 2024, Hiroshima University (HU) conducted a Peace Study Tour, aligning with the anniversary of the atomic bombing on August 6. Students from universities around the world, including our partner institutions, were invited to participate.

In this tour, HU invited 125 participants from 25 universities in 15 countries — including 79 students and 40 faculty/staff members from international partner universities, and six students from another Japanese university. They joined 59 HU students in five summer programs and conferences, each lasting eight to nine days, starting in early August.

These programs and conferences addressed global challenges related to world peace and stability, focusing on five themes: Diversity and Inclusion, Smart Cities, Active Peace, Natural Resource Management aligned with SDGs, Climate Change Crisis, and the Role of Higher Education.

The participants came from diverse backgrounds, including nationality, religion, gender, disability status, and fields of expertise. They attended lectures by practitioners and experts, expanded their knowledge through on-site visits, and engaged in group work and discussions. In this diverse environment, participants actively exchanged ideas from various perspectives on assigned tasks and initiatives for world peace, creating a learning space that integrated theory and practice.

During the same tour, all five programs jointly conducted peace education from August 4 to 6. Participants engaged in activities such as listening to atomic bomb survivor testimonials, visiting the Peace Memorial Museum, attending the Peace Memorial Ceremony, participating in HU's Peace Project event, and joining the lantern floating ceremony. These experiences deepened their understanding of the devastating consequences of the atomic bomb while facilitating meaningful discussions on peacebuilding and a diverse exchange of viewpoints.

Participants also shared their thoughts on their experiences in Hiroshima.

“In Hiroshima, where the consequences of conflicts are painfully remembered, we felt a strong sense of mission. Through this experience, we have been inspired to address my own country's issues through dialogue, tolerance, and cooperation. We want to nurture unity and compassion for a peaceful future,” said one participant. 

Another participant mentioned, “When nations are in conflict, it is easy to hate people in the abstract, but when you listen to the other side's story and learn how similar their lives, problems, and wishes are to your own, you realize that it is impossible to continue harboring hostility. The diversity among program participants in terms of nationality, culture, religion, and profession was immensely valuable, and I think that hosting the program in Hiroshima enhanced the momentum for promoting these ideals.”

HU hopes that participants who have completed the tour will share the importance of peace with the world, drawing from their individual experiences and becoming individuals who can actively contribute to the global society. As HU approaches its 75th anniversary in 2024, the university plans to enhance the program further and expand this initiative to foster a diverse campus where people from around the world, with various cultural backgrounds and innovative ideas, full of enthusiasm and curiosity, come together.

Peace Study Tour 2023

Participants' University Affiliations