From Ambassador (Tjörnin Pond)
2025/8/6
On the night of August 6th, I visited Tjörnin Pond.
Although the season had already turned chilly, hundreds of people gathered for the event.
A candlelit lantern-floating ceremony was held, and my wife and I took part in it.
Though the ceremony differed in form from those in Japan, I could feel that everyone shares the same sentiments of remembrance and peace.
People in Iceland tend to speak relatively loudly, but on this day, the atmosphere was very solemn. A message was conveyed that the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. I feel that the fact such orderly gatherings have been held in Iceland since 1985 during this time of year, both in Reykjavik and in Akureyri, should be more widely known in Japan.
On that same afternoon, a symposium took place at Reykjavík City Hall, focusing primarily on responses to nuclear threats. Former President Dr. Guðni Jóhannesson was among the speakers, delivering a keynote lecture.
I feel deeply that there is a necessity for Japan to take on the role of promoting and sharing the values of peace.
Although the season had already turned chilly, hundreds of people gathered for the event.
A candlelit lantern-floating ceremony was held, and my wife and I took part in it.
Though the ceremony differed in form from those in Japan, I could feel that everyone shares the same sentiments of remembrance and peace.
People in Iceland tend to speak relatively loudly, but on this day, the atmosphere was very solemn. A message was conveyed that the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. I feel that the fact such orderly gatherings have been held in Iceland since 1985 during this time of year, both in Reykjavik and in Akureyri, should be more widely known in Japan.
On that same afternoon, a symposium took place at Reykjavík City Hall, focusing primarily on responses to nuclear threats. Former President Dr. Guðni Jóhannesson was among the speakers, delivering a keynote lecture.
I feel deeply that there is a necessity for Japan to take on the role of promoting and sharing the values of peace.