(August 4, 1999, The Chugoku Shimbun)

On Tuesday, August 3, Mayor of Hiroshima City, Tadatoshi Akiba announced the gist of the Peace Declaration to be presented at the August 6 Peace Memorial Ceremony for the first time after his inauguration. In the declaration, he will evaluate highly of Hibakusha's footprints and distinguished services and make an appeal especially to the young generation to succeed their will. He will also describe the nuclear weapons "Absolute Evil" and calls on the elimination of nuclear weapons.

In the declaration, Mayor Akiba will show his appreciation to Hibakusha who have been struggling throughout their lives for the elimination of nuclear weapons by introducing their three significant footprints.

At first, the services of Hibakusha will be introduced as "They've always lived as human in spite of hell of unspeakable torments and overcome hopeless realities." Their continuing testimony will be mentioned and emphasized as "It prevented the use of nuclear weapons for the third time". Moreover, the declaration will state, "In stead of revenges and hostilities, Hibakusha chose the path to justice and belief for the entire humanity." It continues, "They indicated the style of thinking of new world, which was concentrated in the Japanese constitution."