Seattle’s floating-lantern peace ceremony From Hiroshima to Hope every August 6 at Green Lake marks the anniversary of the atomic bombings* of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and honors the bombing victims and all victims of war and violence. The family program includes traditional and contemporary music, Japanese Taiko drum performance, dancers, and speakers before the lanterns are floated on the lake at dusk. The event takes place on the northwest shore of Green Lake, near the Bathhouse Theater. Free to attend, but donations are greatly appreciated at the event or on their website. More info: fromhiroshimatohope.org
*During the final stage of World War II, the United States dropped atomic [fission] bombs (aka A-bombs) on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. The two bombings immediately killed 120,000 people. Many more died, sometimes years later from the radiation exposure. They remain the only use of nuclear weapons for warfare in history.
- In 2023, we also mark the 81st anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of Japanese Americans on the U.S. West Coast.
You might also like:
- In-person or virtual: permanent exhibit in Tacoma details Executive Order 9066 – Greater Seattle on the Cheap
- Peace Park | seattle.gov, home of the Sadako and the Thousand Cranes sculpture, created in 1990 by artist Daryl Smith. The statue is a life-size bronze of Sadako Sasaki, the young Japanese girl who survived the Hiroshima bombing only to die of radiation sickness at age 12.
