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Carrying Peace Forward Through Learning and Dialogue – Hiroshima University's Global Initiatives

Founded in Hiroshima, which is the first atomic-bomb stricken city, Hiroshima University (HU) upholds “The Pursuit of Peace” as one of its guiding principles. As a university that reflects on and takes action for peace together with the world, HU is committed to building a peaceful and sustainable society by learning from Hiroshima’s history, engaging in dialogue and discussion with universities around the world, and passing these efforts on to future generations.

On August 6, 2026, marking 81 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, university presidents, students, and others from around the world gathered at HU to reflect on the meaning of peace and on what universities and individuals can do to contribute to it from their respective perspectives.

We introduce some of the peace-related initiatives held at HU on August 6.

1. University Presidents for Peace Conference: Discussing the Mission of Universities

HU held the 6th University Presidents for Peace Conference at its Higashi-Senda Campus, bringing together 53 participants, including presidents and vice presidents from 17 universities in 11 countries and regions that endorsed the principles of the University Presidents for Peace Declaration.

The University Presidents for Peace Conference is an international conference convened by HU, calling upon universities around the world to promote inter-university dialogue and collaboration toward the realization of a peaceful and sustainable society. Since the inaugural meeting was held on August 6, 2024, university presidents and other representatives from 34 universities across 26 countries and regions have visited Hiroshima on five occasions, engaging in dialogue on peace and sustainability.

In his opening remarks, HU President Mitsuo Ochi spoke about the significance of holding the conference on August 6 and emphasized the importance of passing on the memories and lessons learned from the atomic bombing to future generations. He also noted that universities play a vital role in developing people who can contribute to peace through education, research, and international exchange, and expressed his hope that universities would further strengthen their partnerships and work together toward the realization of a peaceful and sustainable world.

Opening Remarks

Mitsuo Ochi, President of HU

Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City, spoke about the importance of actively promoting exchanges among universities and study-abroad opportunities on a global scale, as well as expanding education and research across national borders to pass on the thoughts and aspirations of atomic bomb survivors to future generations while upholding the spirit of Hiroshima.

Guest Remarks

Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education of the Arab Republic of Egypt, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in education and spoke of the need for education that nurtures people who can choose cooperation over confrontation.

Guest Remarks

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif

Minister of Education and Technical Education, Arab Republic of Egypt

During the conference that followed, presidents and other representatives from the participating universities introduced the distinctive features of their respective campuses and their initiatives related to peace and sustainability, and exchanged views with one another.

Toward the end of the conference, President Ochi read aloud the University Presidents for Peace Declaration, which sets out the responsibilities of universities in building a peaceful and sustainable society. The Declaration calls for the promotion of collaborative research, student exchange, and the development of young talent. When the Declaration was unanimously adopted, the venue erupted in a round of enthusiastic applause.

2. Peace Study Tour: Reflecting on Peace as a Personal Responsibility

This program is held annually and invites students from partner universities of HU and other universities worldwide. In addition to peace studies, students engage in collaborative learning with peers from around the world on various global issues.

In its fourth year, the program welcomed 144 students from 24 universities in 13 countries to Japan. Five summer programs were offered, bringing together international students and HU students. Three of these programs were held to coincide with August 6, bringing a total of 92 students from overseas universities to Hiroshima.

In the programs, students reflect on peace from diverse perspectives through talks by atomic bomb survivors and storytellers who pass down their experiences, visits to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and discussions on contemporary social issues such as the SDGs and AI.

Mega Exchange Program for Nurturing Peace and Sustainability Leaders

HU&SPF&CU Summer Course on Peace and Sustainability 2026

Japan-U.S. JOINT SUMMER PROGRAM

3. Memorial Service for A-Bomb Victims: Passing Memories on to Future Generations

HU marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing on August 6 with its annual memorial service to remember the victims.

The ceremony is held each year in front of HU’s “Memorial Monument for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb” on the Higashi-Senda Campus. It honors the memory of faculty, staff, university students－including international students－and elementary and secondary school students from HU’s predecessor schools who lost their lives as a result of the atomic bombing while employed by or enrolled at those schools.

Study Abroad Program for Students of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology Opens at HU

On July 7, 2026, Hiroshima University (HU) held the opening ceremony for the Hiroshima University Morito Institute of Global Higher Education Study Abroad Program for Students of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology in the conference room on the fourth floor of the Administration Bureau at its Higashi-Hiroshima Campus. As a distinguished guest, Mr. Akiyoshi Morimoto of the Internal Audit Office of Logicom Holdings Co., Ltd. attended the ceremony on behalf of Mr. Masato Oue, Honorary Consul of Mongolia in Hiroshima.

Under this program, first-year undergraduate students enrolled at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology will be accepted as Special Auditing Students at HU for a period of nine months, beginning in July 2026. The participants are recipients of the Mongolian Presidential Scholarship Program, “ILGEELT-2100,” and are outstanding students selected from across Mongolia.

High-impact Research from Top-tier Journals

Swimming Crab Trapped in Plastic Bottle Survived Two Months on the Ocean

How did a large crab end up trapped inside a plastic bottle with an opening smaller than its body? Hiroshima University researchers investigated this unusual marine mystery, revealing a lesser-known impact of marine plastic pollution on crustaceans.

・Sustainable revitalization of island communities hosting intermittent art festivals

(Published in the Journal of Marine and Island Cultures on April 30)

・Researchers upgrade allergy test to better detect the antibodies that trigger reactions

(Published in Methods on May 10)

・A source of extremely high-energy particles in the Milky Way identified

(Published in The Astrophysical Journal on July 16)

The next issue will be sent on September 24.

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