Peace Monuments in & near Tokyo, Japan

Click here for Hiroshima. / Click here for Nagasaki. / Click here for Okinawa. / Click here for all other parts of Japan.
Click here for Japanese peace monuments in the Pacific Ocean. / Click here for Japanese-American monuments.
Click here for list of Christian history museums in Japan. / Click here for peace pagodas & stupas.
Click here for an illustrated account of selected military museums in Japan.

Right click image to enlarge.

July 14, 1901 - Matthew C. Perry Memorial, Kurihama, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan). "Large granite monument at exact spot near Tokyo where the Americans first came ashore in 1853. Unveiled by Commodore Perry's grandson, Rear Admiral Frederick Rodgers (Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Force on Asiatic Station), & the newly installed Prime Minister, Katsura Taro [1848-1913]. Three American warships (USS New York, USS New Orleans & USS Yorktown) fired salutes from a mile off-shore during the ceremony. Accompanied by three Japanese warships (Shikishima, Hatsuse & Amagi). Monument sponsored by the Bei-yu Kyo-kai and erected with funds largely contributed by Japanese." Both photos taken on dedication day.

1922 - Peace Tower, Peace Exhibition / Heiwa kinen Tokyo hakurankai kyosankai, Ueno Park, Tokyo (Japan). "At the Peace Commemorative Tokyo Exposition in 1922, a seaplane that sped around on the Shinobazu pond surface was very popular. After the Great Kanto Earthquake in September 1922, The park was used as a place of refuge, serving to make people aware of the importance of parks in large cities. Four months later, in January 1923, Ueno Park was presented to Tokyo City to celebrate the wedding of the crown prince. Since then, the park has been one of the most popular places in Tokyo."

1924 - Tagonoura Monestery (Peace Pagoda?), near Mount Fuji (Japan). Created by Nichidatsu Fujii [1885-1985]. Apparently no longer exists.

Date? - Tama Peace Pagoda, Tokyo (Japan).

Date? - Byakko Shinko Kai, Hijirigaoka / Holly Hill, Ichikawa city, Tokyo (Japan). Founded by Masahisa Goi [1916-1980]. Moved in 1998 to the Fuji Sanctuary (qv), and all of its original structures were removed. Goi created the Peace Pole and the World Peace Prayer ("May Peace Prevail on Earth").

Date? - Heiwa no Zo / Peace Statue, HokutoPia, Oji, Tokyo (Japan). Apparently a copy of the famous statue in Nagasaki.

1967 - Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels, 1401 Shimoarako, Higashi Matuyama, Saitama Prefecture (Japan). Preserves 14 of the 15 panels painted by Iri & Toshi Maruki between 1950 & 1982 to show the atomic boming of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Museum includes paintings of Auschwitz, Minamata & Nanking. Click here for Wikipedia article.

1969 - United Nations University, Tokyo (Japan). "Researches the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the UN and its agencies... Motto is 'Advancing knowledge for human security, peace, and development.'" Another campus in Bonn (Germany). Offices at UN Headquarters New York and UNESCO Headquarters Paris.

After 1971? - Monument, Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, Tokyo (Japan). "Marks the spot where war criminals, including Hideki Tojo [1884-1948] -- & Sadaaki Konishi [1916-1949] -- were hung from the gallows at Sugamo Prison. Inscription reads "Pray for Eternal Peace," and on the back is an explanation of the history of the spot." /// "Sugamo Prison was demolished in 1971. In its place is a sprawling amusement & shoipping complex named Sunshine City... In one corner of the complex is a small, well-manicured park where a flat stone marks the location of the prison's gallows."

1976 - Display House of the Daigo Fukuryu-Maru / Fifth Lucky Dragon, 3-2 Yumenoshima, Koto-ku, Tokyo (Japan). Displays the tuna fishing boat contaminated by the US hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954. Visited by EWL 10/08.

1977 - Japan Peace Museum, Shiba 1-4-9, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Japan). Operted (in cyberspace only?) by the independent "Citizens' Campaign to Establish Peace Museums, Peace Rooms & Corners in Japan." Director is Susumu Hani.

1979 - Toda Peace Memorial Hall, Yamashita Park, Yokohama (Japan). "One of seven established across the country as part of Soka Gakkai's effort to promote the message of peace in Japan." Named for Josai Toda [1900-1958]. House was originally constructed in 1922 for the British delegation to Japan.

1982 - World Peace Bell Association (WPBA), 2-36-1-701, Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (Japan). Founded by Tomijiro Yoshida (President of Life Co., Ltd.) to carry on the work of Chiyoji Nakagawa [1905-1972] and Masahiro Kataoka [d.1983]. The WPBA will place about 21 World Peace Bells (WPB's) in 17 countries around the world. Click here for more information about WPB's. Visited by EWL 10/08.

1982 - Nakahara Peace Park, Kosugi Area, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan). Site of base given up by U.S. Army in 1975. Park contains Kawasaki Peace Museum (1992) & numerous sculptures, including "two parallel lightning bolts of assembled stone" (1983) by American sculptor James Sanborn. Kawasaki is adjacent to Tokyo. Photos by EWL 10/08.

1983 - "Peace Boat" (SS Topaz), Yokohama (Japan). Has conducted 53 "Voyages for Peace" since 1983 to all parts of the world.

1983? - Peace Fountain, Showa National Memorial Park, Tachikawa, Tokyo (Japan). "Depicts a young family, parents and two children, releasing doves into the sky. It is meant to symbolize our sincere hope for world peace. To see the statue, you should enter the park from the Tachikawa gate." Opened in 1983, the park had been a military airfield until 1977.

May 19, 1985 - "Reunion of Honor" Monument", Iwo Jima Island, Ogasawara (Japan). Inscription reads in English and Japanese, "On the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, American and Japanese veterans met again on these same sands, this time in peace and friendship..." Ogasawara is one of eight villages of Tokyo.

1990 - Peace Statue, West Gate Park, Ikebukuro, Tokyo (Japan). Bronze statue made by Takeuchi Fubou in 1990.

August 1990 - Association for the Flame of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Ueno Koen / Ueno Park, Tokyo (Japan). "We hereby pledge to keep burning the A-bomb flame[s from Hiroshima & Nagasaki], convinced that this monument should contribute to strengthening the worldwide people’s movement to abolish nuclear weapons & achieve peace, which is the most urgent task for the people across the borders." Visited by EWL 10/08.

Date? - Shrine of the flame from Nagasaki & Hiroshima, Shiba Park, Minato Ward, Tokyo (Japan). Near Tokyo Tower. "One highlight of Shiba Park is the shrine of the flame from Nagasaki & Hiroshima. The fire was lighted in one of the important activities in Nagasaki or Hiroshima many years ago, & that flame was not turned off but instead, shared & passed on to different places. It even reached New York. I have to ask Takasan to tell me the story about this eternal flame again." /// Initial info & upper image courtesy of Michio Hamaji 10Feb2015.

About 1991 - Statue of Peace, Citizen's Plaza, Tokyo Municipal Government Building, Shinjuku District, Tokyo (Japan). Left photo by EWL 10/08. Click here for other photo.

Autumn 1991 - Cloche de Shinagawa / Shinagawa Bell, Parc du Ariana Museum, Geneva (Switzerland). Cast in 1990 by the Oigo workshop in Takaoka (Japan) and offered to the city of Geneva by the community of the Honsen-Ji temple in Shinagawa, Tokyo (Japan). Replaces original bell obained by a Swiss art collector and returned to Japan. "Disparue de son temple au XIXe siècle, découverte puis acquisition en 1873 par le collectionneur genevois Gustave Revilliod à la fonderie Rüetschi d'Aarau, et installée dans le parc du Musée Ariana à Genève, la cloche du temple Honsen-ji de Shinagawa a été restituée au Japon par les autorités de la Ville de Genève en 1930. Soixante ans plus tard, en signe de reconnaissance, le temple offre à Genève une réplique de cette fameuse cloche."

1992 - Kawasaki Peace Museum, 1957-1 Kizuki Sumiyoshi-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki (Japan). One of 9 Japanese institutions described in brochure for 6th International Conference of the INMP in 2008. Oval image shows peace statue in front of the museum. Visited by EWL 10/08.

1993 - Peace Museum of Saitama, 241-113 Iwadono, Higashi Matsuyama, Saitama Prefecture (Japan). One of 9 Japanese institutions described in brochure for 6th International Conference of the INMP in 2008. Visited by EWL 10/08.

1996 - "Wish Tree for Peace," Akasaka Hikawa Shrine, Tokyo (Japan). "A ginkgo tree which is 400 years old and grows branches and leaves splendidly even now, although it has a huge hole in its trunk as a result of an air bombing during WW-II. 'Wish Tree,' a project to wish for peace, [has been] placed around this ginkgo tree. After the spectators write their wishes on white pieces of paper and tie them onto the branches, the messages will be sent to Yoko Ono and will be stored in the Peace Monument [sic]."

1998 - Kanagawa Plaza for Global Citizenship (KPGC) - Earth Plaza, 1-2-1 Kosugaya, Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan). Exhibits particularly oriented to children. One of 9 Japanese institutions described in brochure for 6th International Conference of the INMP in 2008.

1998 - Fuji Sanctuary, Byakko Shinko Kai, Asagiri Plateau (Japan). Byakko was founded in Tokyo by Masahisa Goi [1916-1980]. Its headquarters at Hijirigaoka / Holly Hill, Tokyo, were moved in 1998 to the Fuji Sanctuary, and all of the Tokyo structures were removed.

March 1999 – Goi Peace Foundation, Heiwa Daiichi Building, 1-4-5 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Japan). "The Goi Peace Foundation was established in Tokyo in 1999 with the approval of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan... [The foundation] cooperates closely with the World Peace Prayer Society through shared projects and networks..."

Date? - Children's Peace Monument, Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Japan). Image shows the monument at left & the tops of some of the buldings which surround the park.

Date? - Peace Carillion, Shinjuku-Chuo Park / Shinjuku Central Park, Shinjuku, Tokyo (Japan). About one block northwest of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Twelve bells ranging from the smallest at the bottom to the largest at the top. Visited by EWL 10/08.

Date? - Peace Memorial Carillon, in front of Tokyo Station, Tokyo (Japan). What's the story of these bells?

March 9, 2002 - Centre of the Tokyo Raid & War Damage, Kitasuna 1-5-4, Koto-ku, Tokyo (Japan). Documents the fire bombing of downtown Tokyo (Shitamachi) by some 300 American bombers on March 10, 1945. Director is Katsumoto Saotome. Right image shows spherical "Children's World Peace" statue.

2002 - Peace Bell, International Christian University (ICU), Minato-Ku, Tokyo (Japan). Western bell in tall bell tower.

November 2006 - Chukiren Heiwakinenkan / Chukiren Peace Memorial Museum, Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture (Japan). "The core of the museum’s collection, housed in a 180-sq meter warehouse, is the testimony of 300 Japanese veterans who confessed while in custody in China to committing atrocities there, including rape, torture and infanticide. Graphic video and photographic evidence showing some of the most brutal crimes of the Imperial Japanese Army is held in the archives as a resource for scholars."