Hiroshima Radiation Congress

Hiroshima City was the location of a recent meeting of the International Radiation Protection Association. The congress is held every four years and brings together researchers from various specialised disciplines, theoretical and practical. This year’s 10th Congress, which had the general theme of “Harmonisation of Radiation, Human Life and the Ecosystem”, was the first to be held in East Asia and brought together some 1,100 participants from 58 countries and regions. The congress took place over five days in the city’s international conference centre, located in the Peace Memorial Park. On the opening day, Prince Akishino attended the congress as a special guest and gave a speech in English.

Heavenly Voices

A gospel choir visited Hiroshima last month and gave a number of performances. The choir was the Gospel Choir from the Trinity International University, in Illinois, USA, and performed under the baton of its director, William Washington. On May 15 the 40-strong choir gave a performance in front of the A-Bomb Cenotaph in the Peace Memorial Park. Other concerts took place at the Asakita-ku Civic Arts Centre, in front of 700 visitors, and during the students’ lunch break at Hiroshima Jogakuin University.

Symbolic Surgery

One of the most important landmarks in Japan, seen on postcards all over the world, is the Torii, or shrine gate, of the Itsukushima Shrine, located on the island of Miyajima, in Miyajima-cho, Saeki-gun. The shrine gate has been designated by the government as an Important Cultural Asset and, along with the shrine itself, suffered damage at the hands of Typhoon 18, which passed over the area in September last year. The shrine gate is buttressed by four supporting wooden columns and parts of these are being repaired. The operation is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Lifelong Learners

Three universities in Hiroshima have opened their libraries to local members of the community. The universities are all located in different parts of the city and local residents are said to be happy with the new opportunities afforded for lifelong learning. The first college to open up its library was Hiroshima Shudo University, in Asaminami-ku, which did so 26 years ago. Shudo’s lead has been followed by Hiroshima University of Economics, also located in Asaminami-ku, and by Hiroshima Prefectural Women’s University in Ujina, Minami-ku. An advantage for local residents is the access afforded to more specialised books and journals.

「広島放射線会議」

　先日、「国際放射線防護学会（ＩＲＰＡ）」が広島市であった。この会議は４年に１度開かれ、幅広い学問分野の研究者と技術者が集まる。１０回目にあたる今年の会議の総合テーマは「放射線と人間、生態系の調和」。東アジア地域で開かれた初めての会議で、５８カ国・地域から約１，１００人が参加した。会議は、広島市の平和記念公園内の国際会議場で５日間にわたり開かれた。開会式では、秋篠宮さまが来賓として参加され、英語であいさつされた。

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「美しい声」

　ゴスペルクワイア（聖歌隊）が昨月広島を訪れ、多くの歌を披露した。聖歌隊は米国イリノイ州にあるトリニティ国際大学の聖歌隊で、団長のウィリアム・ワシントンのもとで歌った。５月１５日には、総勢約４０人が平和記念公園内の原爆慰霊碑前で歌を捧げた。また安佐北区の区民文化センターでは７００人の観客を集め、広島女学院大学でも昼食時間にコンサートが行われた。

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「シンボルの修復工事」

　日本で最も重要な名所の一つは、世界中で絵葉書に描かれているのを見かける、宮島の厳島神社（佐伯郡宮島町）の門、大鳥居である。大鳥居は、国から重要文化財に指定されており、神社と同様、昨年９月にこの地域を通過した台風１８号のせいで被害を受けた。大鳥居は、４本の木製の支柱に支えられており、その一部は現在改修工事中。修復工事は、今月末までかかる見通し。

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「生涯学習者」

　広島の３つの大学図書館が地域の一般市民に図書を開放している。大学はそれぞれ、市内の別々の地域にあり、市民や地域住民たちは、生涯学習のために新たな機会が作られ満足しているようだ。貸し出し利用を最初に始めたのは、安佐南区の広島修道大学で、スタートは２６年前だった。修道大学に続いて同じく安佐南区の広島経済大学、そして南区宇品の県立女子大学がサービスを始めた。一般市民にとっては、より専門的な本と雑誌を借りることができるのが利点だ。