Message from the Mayor
In order to realize our ambition of becoming an International Peace Culture City, the City of Hiroshima is working to create a living environment in which everyone can have hopes and dreams for the future through our three city-planning goals of becoming a World-Renowned City of Peace, a Vibrant and Internationally Inclusive City, and a City That Fosters Well-Rounded Citizens and Where Culture Thrives.
Regarding becoming a World-Renowned City of Peace: over the past year, we have once again made the hibakusha will for the realization of a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons known to the United Nations and representatives of governments across the globe at the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee of the 11th NPT Review Conference. We have strengthened our solidarity with the over 8,500 members cities of Mayors for Peace at the 11th Mayors for Peace General Conference Commemorating 80 Years Since the Atomic Bombing and reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening our activities, such as fostering the next generation of youth leaders and cultural exchanges, and thus aim for nuclear abolition and the realization of lasting world peace.
We also held many events last year to commemorate 80 years since the atomic bombing, but these events don’t end with the milestone year. The City of Hiroshima plans to further strengthen its support for citizen-led initiatives that contribute to the promotion of the Culture of Peace to ensure that the Will of Hiroshima is securely passed down to the next generation.
In terms of becoming a Vibrant and Internationally Inclusive City, in addition to the new Eki-mae Ōhashi Bridge streetcar route, opened in August last year, we plan to begin operations of a new streetcar loop line in the spring that connects points in the central downtown area. In addition to running fixed route buses in the Kōyō area last year on a trial basis, Bus Collaboration and Innovation Platform Hiroshima—a public and private joint organization made up of the City of Hiroshima and eight bus companies—will continue to work to build a user-friendly and sustainable public transportation system through initiatives such as test running driverless buses in the Kabe area this year.
In December of last year, a new road connecting the Ishiuchi-kami and Ishiuchi-kita areas in Seifū Shinto was opened, further improving traffic flow in some areas. In order to further accelerate community building, we will make concrete progress on extending the Astramline, a transit system that creates connections between the Seifū Shinto area and the downtown delta area. We will also work to create vitality and excitement in cooperation with the local community and businesses by making steady progress in redevelopment projects in the downtown area, including the redevelopment of the area to the west of the Nishi-Hiroshima Station South Exit and the Moto-machi-Aioi Avenue area.
Finally, on becoming a City That Fosters Well-Rounded Citizens and Where Culture Thrives: beginning with increasing eligibility for postpartum care, the City of Hiroshima is making progress on initiatives that support households raising children through strengthening consultation and support systems by establishing local parenting consultation organizations and consultation desks for youth caregivers based on the City of Hiroshima Children and Youth Plan established last March. This year as well, we will work to further enhance our support for children and parents based on the needs of families.
In the fields of culture and sports, an exciting new facility where visitors can experience Hiroshima history and culture was opened in Hiroshima Castle’s Sannomaru in March 2025 with plans to open the new Sannomaru History Museum in the near future. In addition, Hiroshima Velodrome will be reborn as Urban Cycle Parks Hiroshima, a sports and leisure complex for young people, families, and more, to enjoy. The City of Hiroshima will also work to further enhance culture and sports in our city by diligently holding and supporting events in line with our city’s moniker of “The City of Water,” such as riverside concerts and water sports like standup paddleboard. Through these initiatives, we aim to realize a society of communal coexistence in which our citizens can live enjoyable, sustainable lives in the communities they love.
Inquiries regarding this page
Mayor's Office, Secretarial Division, Planning and General Affairs Bureau
1-6-34 Kokutaiji-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Tel: 082-504-2037 / Fax: 082-246-4734