Photo/Illutration Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui attends the peace memorial ceremony held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward on Aug. 6, 2024. (Pool)

HIROSHIMA—Hiroshima city on May 15 decided to notify Taiwan about the Aug. 6 peace memorial ceremony, breaking with its protocol of only inviting nations with which Japan has diplomatic relations, sources said.

The municipal government has confirmed the Taiwanese side’s intention to attend the ceremony, which will be held on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, according to the sources.

Until last year, Hiroshima city had sent invitations to the ceremony to representatives of other countries and regions.

But this year, the city switched from invitations to notifications, leaving the decision on whether to attend the ceremony to recipients.

When Hiroshima announced the policy change in April, it said notifications would be mailed to 195 countries and regions that have either diplomatic missions in Japan or representative offices at the United Nations.

Taiwan, which Beijing says is a part of China, was not on the list.

However, the city has since decided there is no reason to exclude Taiwan, given the purpose of conveying the “spirit of Hiroshima,” which is a wish for the coexistence and prosperity of humankind.

Related News