The bikers have arrived!

Throughout today, bikers from around the world have arrived in Nagasaki.  We have all stepped in the beauty of Japan, a place also known as the land of the rising sun. As we take in the blue skies, lush mountains, we each wipe the sweat from our brow trying to adjust to the warm and humid weather. Despite jet lag, everyone is enthusiastic to meet one another. As I type, I can hear at least five languages in use. It is a great sight to see 20 nationalities coming together for a common goal of peace, nonproliferation, and our shared environment.

The highlight of today was meeting Mayor Taue of Nagasaki in the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Museum.  Ryoma Kayano (Japan), Alix Schou (Denmark), Alex Rosen (Germany), and Richard Denton (Canada) spoke on behalf of the IPPNW group to express their view about a nuclear-free world. Activists also focused on how nuclear energy could turn into a nuclear disaster as was seen in Fukushima. Mayor Taue wished the group a successful and safe bike tour, and if he had the time, would have liked to join himself. He inspired the young generation to take lead in the endeavor to collaborate across borders for world peace.

And this evening we were privileged to have the Vice President of the Japanese Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (JPPNW), Masao Tomonaga join us for our dinner. He was 2 years old when the atomic bomb dropped in Nagasaki in 1945. We will be hearing more from him and his life’s work once we reach Hiroshima.

In other news, bikers are ready for a night of sleep before learning the road and bike rules of Japan tomorrow. Now, we head to the Nanzan Elementary School. Until then, cheers!

-       Michelle (USA)