(August 7, 1999, The Chugoku Shimbun)

The annual memorial event, in which paper lanterns are floated down a river, was held to repose the A-bomb victims' souls in the evening of August 6th. Motoyasu River which flows through Hiroshima City, was filled with lanterns and the water was reflecting the colorful and soft lights of lanterns. Taking the Organizing Committee's advice, people wrote their messages on the lanterns and many of them had messages such as "We pledge to work for peace."

The event began at 6 p.m. with occasional showers and people released the lanterns on the water from a riverbank. Yoshio Kametaka (age 76), a resident of Naka-ku, who was praying quietly said, "I've been continuing this lantern offering for 40 years to condole the souls of my family and wish for the elimination of nuclear weapons. I want especially young people not to repeat the mistake." A man who lost 5 members of his family in the bombing entrusts his hope with future generations.

Citizens' volunteers participated in the event for the first time. 72 volunteers whose ages vary from 16 to 63 years old including students and housewives helped the people offering the lanterns from boats. Hideo Sato (age 29), a company employee, who lives in Aki-ku, said when he saw people offering the lanterns on the water, he realized the depth of their sadness."

Picture Caption: A mother with children, floating lanterns with messages and drawings for peace. (At 7:25 p.m. on August 6th, Motoyasu River, Naka-ku, Hiroshima)