Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron, left, after they left messages in the visitors’ book at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on May 19. (Provided by Foreign Ministry)

HIROSHIMA--The heads of the world’s most industrialized nations left poignant messages after their visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

The Group of Seven leaders visited the facility on May 19 at the start of their three-day summit and jotted down their thoughts in visitors’ books. The Foreign Ministry released the contents the following day.

As host of the summit, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrote, “We are gathered here to work toward a world without nuclear weapons along with the other world leaders on the occasion of this historic G-7 summit.”

U.S. President Joe Biden wrote, “Together, let us continue to make progress toward the day when we can finally and forever rid the world of nuclear weapons.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote, “We make a new pledge along with our partners gathered here today to protect peace and freedom with even stronger resolve.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote, “Today, let us recall the past and together draw a future filled with hope.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s message said in part: “No words can describe the horror and suffering of the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But what we can say, with all our hearts, and all our souls, is no more.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote “Canada pays solemn tribute to the many lives lost, the unspeakable grief of the Hibakusha, and the immense suffering of the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”

Biden tweeted early on May 20 about his visit the previous day, “Today, my fellow G7 Leaders and I paid a visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park where we paid our respects.”

In the interim, Daniel Hogsta, interim executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, gave a scathing critique of the G-7 leaders’ performance so far when he spoke exclusively to The Asahi Shimbun.

“The leaders came to Hiroshima. They met with the hibakusha. They went to the Peace Memorial Museum. And then afterward, they acknowledged the importance of the right to use nuclear weapons to potentially create a new Hiroshima. So I think that’s extremely disappointing.” 

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