On the 6th, Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Day, lanterns were lit in the river that flows near the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima City for the first time in four years, and many people prayed to comfort the spirits of the victims.
At the Motoyasu River, which flows near the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima City, colorful lanterns with messages written on them were washed into the river from 6 p.m.
Last year, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, all the lanterns were washed away from the boat, but this year they were also washed away from the riverbank for the first time in four years, and the number of lanterns has doubled from last year to about 4,2.
Messages such as "May there be no more wars around the world" and "Remember August 5000th" were written on the lanterns, and the people who gathered quietly put their hands together and prayed to the lanterns.
A mother living in Hiroshima City, who visited with her sons, ages 8 and 5, said, "When my children grew up, I brought them to the lantern sink for the first time, and I prayed that something as tragic as war would never happen again."
Mr. Toshiyasu Wakasa of the Lantern Sinking Executive Committee said, "I am glad that the memorial service has finally been restored, and I hope that people around the world will know that this lantern fire is the fire of life, and that they will stop the atomic bombing and war."