Japan's Emperor, Empress to visit Hiroshima in June
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit Hiroshima in June, as 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War Two. The two-day trip will be the Imperial couple's first to the atomic-bombed city since the Emperor ascended the throne in 2019.
The devastating weapon was dropped on the city in western Japan on August 6, 1945, shortly before the end of the war. About 140,000 people in Hiroshima were killed by the bombing by the end of that year. The war left approximately 3.1 million Japanese dead.
The Emperor and Empress will fly to Hiroshima Airport on June 19. They plan to visit the Peace Memorial Park in the afternoon to lay flowers at the cenotaph dedicated to atomic bomb victims.
The Imperial couple will view atomic bomb remnants displayed at a facility that opened in the park three years ago. They will also visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to see renovated exhibits, and talk with atomic-bomb survivors and others.
On the following day, the Emperor and Empress will spend time at a nursing home for atomic bomb victims. Prior to that, they will be in Asaminami Ward, which was hit hard in 2014 by heavy rains and landslides.
The couple will be briefed on reconstruction efforts as they inspect a dam built to prevent mudslides, and see exhibits at the Torrential Rain Disaster Memorial Center.
Officials say the Emperor will visit alone if the Empress is not in good health.
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