#Japan #Oslo #Soka Gakkai #Hibakusha #Nobel Peace Prize

Soka Gakkai's Role in the Nobel Peace Prize Forum

On December 11, 2024, following the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony honoring Nihon Hidankyo on the 10th, a significant event will unfold at the University of Oslo. The Nobel Peace Prize Forum, organized by the Norwegian Nobel Institute, will be co-hosted by the University of Oslo and Soka Gakkai International (SGI). This year's forum is entitled "Nuclear Weapons: How to Counter the Threat," a relevant and timely discussion set to take place from 10:00 to 12:00 Central European Time.

The forum will gather a diverse assembly of thirteen expert speakers, among whom are the hibakusha, or survivors, of the atomic bombings: Masao Tomonaga, emeritus director of the Atomic Bomb Hospital in Nagasaki, and Keiko Ogura, founder of Peace Interpreters for Hiroshima. In addition, three Nobel Peace Prize laureates are expected to participate, enriching the conversation with their insights.

Minoru Harada, the president of SGI, expressed his hope that the recognition of Nihon Hidankyo with the Nobel Peace Prize serves as an inspiration for global efforts towards abolishing nuclear weapons. He emphasized the importance of promoting profound dialogue that resonates with the heart and consciousness of citizens worldwide, especially the youth.

Other prominent attendees will include Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, and Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN. The panel will also feature Karen Astrid Hallberg, newly elected Secretary-General of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, alongside other notable academics and peace activists. The Seoul-based butoh dancer will also perform, aiming to add an artistic dimension to the discussions.

The forum is anticipated to attract around 500 in-person attendees. SGI will also stream the event live on Facebook, enabling wider community engagement.

In the afternoon, a high-level panel titled "Preventing Nuclear War: The Principle of 'No First Use' of Nuclear Weapons" will be organized in partnership with Peacebook and the Norwegian Nobel Institute. This workshop, following the Chatham House Rule, promises to foster deep discussions on risk reduction and trust-building strategies involving some of the prominent speakers from the morning session.

Simultaneously, SGI will host a Youth Dialogue with Hibakusha at the University of Oslo, where Dr. Tomonaga and Mrs. Ogura will engage with local high school and university students along with young SGI members in Norway’s capital.

Since the early 1970s, SGI has worked diligently on collecting testimonies from hibakusha. It has produced numerous public information resources, including:

• - Videos featuring the life experiences of female hibakusha, offered in the original Japanese with subtitles in English, simplified Chinese, Spanish, and French.
• - A video comprising Keiko Ogura’s testimony in English.
• - A digital book titled Hiroshima and Nagasaki: What We Never Forget, which includes 50 testimonies in English.

Through its ongoing mission to cultivate a culture of peace, SGI has dedicated over six decades to advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Its late president, Daisaku Ikeda (1928-2023), laid out comprehensive initiatives aimed at the complete elimination of nuclear arms, consistently presenting annual peace proposals. From 2022 to 2023, Ikeda delivered three statements encouraging adherence to the principle of "no first use" of nuclear weapons. SGI, which represents Soka Gakkai organizations globally, holds NGO accreditation with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

For further inquiries, the SGI representatives in Oslo can be contacted. Chie Sunada is reachable via WhatsApp at +81-90-1031-6905 from December 8, while Yuki Kawanaka can be contacted at +81-80-5957-4919.