London: Nagasaki Day Commemoration Ceremony at Peace Pagoda

Prayers at Peace Pagoda. Image ICN/JS

The 77th anniversary of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki was commemorated in London yesterday, with a procession from Westminster Cathedral - following the memorial service for Franz Jagersatter - to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park, led by Buddhist monk the Rev Gyoro Nagase with several monks and a nun from the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order.

They were accompanied by representatives from several London churches, Pax Christi, Westminster Justice and Peace and other peace campaigners.

Arriving at the Peace Pagoda they were welcomed by Mr Shigeo Kobayashi from Japan Against Nuclear. (JAN).

Colourful lanterns on the steps of the pagoda, represented souls of the 74,000 people who perished in the bombing in 1945.

The monks led prayers and ceremonies with incense and chanting, for all victims in Nagasaki and offered prayers for peace in the world.

Fr Alan Gadd, from the South London Interfaith group offered a Christian prayer. Hannah Kemp-Welch CND co-chair, gave a brief address in which she voiced fears over the increasing tensions in the world where so many countries have nuclear weapons.

Shigeo Kobayashi spoke about the urgent necessity of implementing promises made in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and hopes for the tenth review conference of parties to the treaty which is currently taking place at the UN. He said the danger of a catastrophic accident had never been greater - and pointed out that the bomb on Nagasaki was actually an accident - the original plan was to drop it somewhere else.

Singer Brigette Benett sang Yusuf Islam (Cat Steven's) anthem 'Peace Train as the sun set. There were refreshments for those taking part before the evening ended.

The Peace Pagoda was presented to London in 1984 by the Venerable Nichidatsu Fuji, founder of the Japanese Buddhist movement, Nipponzan Myohoji.

Rev Fuji stated that: "Civilisation is not to kill human beings, not to destroy things, nor make war; civilisation is to hold mutual affection and to respect one another."

Following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he pledged to build pagodas worldwide as shrines to peace. Constructed by nuns, monks and other followers of the Nipponzan Myohoji order, the pagoda was completed in 1985, just weeks after Guruji died at the age of 100. Altogether, there are now 80 peace pagodas worldwide.

The pagoda features a series of gilt-bronze statues which represent the most significant stages of the Buddha's life; birth, contemplation leading to enlightenment, teaching and death.

Rev Nagase who came to London from Japan in 1978 and was involved in the construction, is responsible for caring for the pagoda. He also regularly campaigns for a nuclear-free world.