Nagasaki Commemoration Ottawa

Tōrō nagashi— floating paper lanterns are a traditional consolation for the approximate 200,000 souls of those killed in Japan in 1945. This event is hosted annually by The Friends, Ottawa Quakers in the Glebe neighbourhood. See 62 photos.

Part of the crowd.

On August 9, 2023, more than 100 Ottawans came out in a beautiful evening to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the international criminality that took place in Japan in 1945 when USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The consequences have since posed an existential threat for humanity, with the possibility of our own extinction.

Since 2019 we are meeting near Queen Elizabeth Drive and Third Street, at the new Lily Pond and Monz (Moose) bench, by Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Algonquin artist Claude Latour, northwest of the new Flora McDonald Footbridge over the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO Heritage Site. See 62 photos.

Before this Lily Pond was made, we all met at The Friends House at 91A Fourth Ave, made lanterns, and walked east 450 meters to the Rideau Canal wharf at the Canal Ritz restaurant.

Again this year the mood was, 'No More Hiroshimas! Take Peace Action Now!' as the Canadian Peace Congress, one of the participants in the evening, wrote in their handout.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the U.S. military bombed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear weapons. Over 200,000 people, mostly civilians, died instantly or later succumbed from burns, malnutrition, and radiation-related illnesses, and their cities leveled to the ground. Those notorious acts will forever be remembered as the first time the devastating impact of nuclear warfare was unleashed.

There was absolutely no justification for this wanton attack. Unclassified documents have confirmed the lie of the constructed 'myth' that the atomic attack was necessary to spare the lives of U.S. servicemen and end the war. In fact, Imperial Japan was already on the verge of collapse and surrender by early August 1945....

Program

Bill Bhaneja, MC for the evening, began the meeting by saying 'We are here to commemorate those who lost their lives.'

• Most lanterns were made at The Friends House earlier, and many brought their own or made them onsite with art supplies furnished by The Friends.
• Many evening people signed the Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
• Friend Judith Brown read the City of Ottawa proclamation: '... Mayor of the City of Ottawa, proclaimed August 6th Hiroshima Day and August 9th Nagasaki Day ...' ; then Morgan Gay read it in French.
• Peggy Mason, former Canadian Disarmament Ambassador to the United Nations, and now President of the Rideau Institute, spoke about the urgent need in the UN to bring about peace in the world with countries needing a guarantee of shared sustainable security.
• Music by Tim Kitz and Just Voices group, and Kris Wilson-Yang (left) on violin.
• Rory Lewis spoke about making Ottawa a city of peace, free from nuclear weapons, banning the annual CANSEC military show.
• Friend Carl Stieren announced that the Celebration of Life for Hans Sinn will be held at Brooke Valley School, Perth, Ontario, on September 24, between 2 pm to 5 pm with potluck after.
• At dusk our Tōrō nagashi ceremony began as participants floated their handcrafted candlelit paper lanterns on the water symbolizing the guiding of souls of the deceased toward peace, to the spirit world, and as a gesture of respect for those who have died.
• More music and song in the night.
• Lanterns were gathered at the end.

Tōrō nagashi.

62 photos.

All my reports since 2009: 1945 A-bombing of Japan Memorials, Ottawa.

Announcements

• Updated! Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day events in Canada 2023, Peace Quest
• Peace memorial and lantern ceremony, Bay Ward Bulletin
• Ottawa Japanese Community Association & Cultural Centre (OJCA - OJCC), Facebook
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ottawa, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada (IPPNW Canada)

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