Peace Ceremony restrictions violate constitution: Hiroshima Bar Association

Restrictions on entry to Hiroshima Peace Ceremony are excessive and violate freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution, says the Hiroshima Bar Association.

The Hiroshima Bar Association has submitted a statement to the Hiroshima City Government opposing the tightening of entry restrictions at last year’s August 6 Peace Memorial Ceremony.

Hiroshima City Government expanded entry restrictions to the entirety of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, including a ban on the bringing in of loudspeakers, overtly political banners, and other item. The official explanation for the expanded measures says that they came in response to an incident at the 2023 ceremony in which a demonstrator allegedly physically attacked a city employee.

On January 31, a Hiroshima Bar Association’s Peace and Constitutional Issues Committee member stated, “Hiroshima City’s restrictions are excessive and violate the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution.”

In their statement, submitted to the city government, the Hiroshima Bar Association asserts that:
1. The city restrictions infringe on freedom of expression and religion
2. Restrictions should be kept to the “minimum necessary”
3. Rather than strengthening restrictions, adjustments made on the basis of discussions should have been agreed, rendering the restrictions unnecessary.

RCC News quotes the city official who accepted the statement as saying, “We are considering how to harmonize ‘freedom of expression’ with the ‘solemn ceremony.’

It will interesting to see how this plays out in the coming months as the city plans for the 80th anniversary of the A-bomb attack, when the eyes of the world will be on Hiroshima.