Japanese

On July 2, 2025, a special lecture and student exchange event titled "The Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law and Peacebuilding" was held at MIRAI CREA, led by Professor Mari Katayanagi of the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Scienses, Hiroshima University (HU). The event was specially organized to coincide with a visit by 16 undergraduate law students and faculty members from Santo Tomás University, Republic of Colombia. Several HU students also took part in the program.

Before the lecture, the Colombian students toured the Higashi-Hiroshima campus, enjoying its lush greenery and peaceful atmosphere. The lecture was delivered in Japanese, with consecutive interpretation into Spanish. This was followed by an exchange session conducted in English as a common language, during which students from both universities actively engaged in lively and open cross-cultural discussions.

In her lecture, Professor Katayanagi explained that although Hiroshima had experienced devastating destruction from the atomic bombing, the city chose to pursue peace rather than harbor hatred. She emphasized Hiroshima’s locally driven approach to peacebuilding during its postwar reconstruction and highlighted the significance of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law, enacted in 1949. This legislation, she noted, not only enabled national support for reconstruction but also provided a shared vision for rebuilding Hiroshima as a city dedicated to peace.

Professor Katayanagi stressed that the law marked a pivotal shift in Hiroshima’s identity—from a city with military functions to one that sends a global message of nuclear disarmament and lasting peace. Her remarks resonated deeply with the participants, who expressed strong empathy and interest. The lecture also included discussions on the testimonies of atomic bomb survivors and the critical role of international cooperation.

During the Q&A session, numerous questions were raised by the students of Santo Tomás University and other attendees, reflecting a keen interest in Japan’s postwar security policy and Hiroshima’s global role as a peace-promoting city.

In closing, Professor Katayanagi referred to the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize statement by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), emphasizing the importance of survivor testimonies and consistent advocacy for nuclear abolition. She noted how the award highlighted the urgency of confronting the erosion of the "nuclear taboo" in today's world.

This event provided a valuable opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of Hiroshima’s history and peace initiatives, while also fostering meaningful exchange across cultural and linguistic boundaries.