NAGASAKI -- With this year marking the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, the city has decided to resurrect its large-scale bon-odori folk dance festival after a decade-long hiatus.
The Nagasaki folk dance federation, which will organize the Nagasaki Peace Bon-Odori Festival to be held on Aug. 8, is encouraging all citizens to participate as a "prayer for peace."
According to the federation, the bon-odori festival was first held on Aug. 9, 1947, two years to the day after the bombing. As many as 30,000 residents participated, and noted composer Yuki Koseki wrote the melody "Nagasaki Bon-Odori" for the occasion.
The festival continued for many years under various titles, including "Atomic Bombing Memorial Bon-Odori Festival." It drew large crowds that included hibakusha, or bombing survivors, but as the organizers aged and for other reasons, it gradually became no longer possible to hold on such a large scale, and was ended in 2010.
The city decided to bring it back this year as part of its activities to mark the 75th anniversary. The event will start at 7 p.m. at the Nagasaki Municipal Athletics Stadium, located near ground zero of the blast.
About 3,000 were initially expected to participate, but that number will likely be halved due to countermeasures against the spread of the coronavirus.
Teruo Ishibashi, 86, the current chairman of the federation who had participated in the festival since about 1952, sees this year's event as a means for bringing together the remaining hibakusha and younger generations through dance to memorialize those who perished in the blast.
"I hope that people will participate to strengthen their desire for peace in this milestone year," Ishibashi said.
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