Emperor, Empress meet with UN disarmament official

NHK -- Aug 11

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have held talks with the top disarmament affairs official of the United Nations.

The Imperial couple met with UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi at their Akasaka residence in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Nakamitsu briefed them on the UN efforts and challenges in seeking nuclear disarmament.

She said that during her visit to the atomic-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she was pleased to know that young people are disseminating information about the bombings to the world online.

The Emperor and Empress praised the fact that young people are inheriting memories of the tragedies. They said that although negotiations between governments are important, education is also very important for disarmament as well.

The couple presented Nakamitsu a copy of an essay written by their daughter, Princess Aiko, based on her experience when she visited the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

After the one-hour meeting, Nakamitsu said the Emperor and Empress told her that they believe the work on disarmament must involve great difficulties as tensions have risen among world powers.

She added that she was encouraged by their words, and the meeting has become a source of energy to continue her task.

Aug 11 (ANNnewsCH) - 天皇皇后両陛下は11日、国連の中満泉事務次長から核軍縮を巡る国際情勢や広島、長崎での新しい取り組みについて説明を受けられました。  両陛下は午後、国連の軍縮担当のトップである中満事務次長から核軍縮問題などについて説明を受けられました。中満事務次長は国際的な情勢を説明したうえで、広島や長崎では若者が新しい技術を使って被爆者の経験の継承に取り組んでいることなどを話したということです。これに対し、両陛下は「思いを若い人が引き継いでいってくれることは重要ですね」などと話されたということです。また、両陛下は愛子さまが学習院女子中等科で広島を訪れた時のことを書いた卒業文集のコピーを中満事務次長に渡されたということです。