From 5 to 8 August 2025, UNU Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala visited the prefectures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. His trip centred around his attendance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on 6 August and the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony on 9 August, marking 80 years since the atomic bombings of the two cities.
During his stay in Hiroshima, Prof. Marwala engaged with Mayors for Peace and visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. A highlight of the Rector’s visit was the University Presidents for Peace Conference held at Hiroshima University, where he gave a presentation on the topic of peace and sustainability and signed the University Presidents for Peace Declaration.
While in Hiroshima City, Prof. Marwala visited the UNITAR Hiroshima Office where he met with Ms. Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Executive Director of UNITAR. They discussed the UN80 process and deepening collaboration between UNU and UNITAR on research, education and training.
In Nagasaki, the Rector visited the Nagasaki Peace Park, where he laid flowers at ground zero of the Nagasaki atomic bombing and visited the Peace Memorial Hall. During his stay, the Rector joined a press conference with Mr. Shiro Suzuki, Mayor of Nagasaki, and Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima, which underscored the urgency of nuclear disarmament, the need for preserving historical memory and the role of the two cities in fostering peace and reconciliation.
While in Nagasaki, the Rector delivered the Commemorative Lecture at the 11th General Conference of Mayors for Peace, reaffirming the importance of multilateral cooperation to achieve lasting peace. This was followed by a panel discussion with Mayor Suzuki and Mayor Matsui.
The Rector also visited Nagasaki University (NU), where he and NU President Takeshi Nagayasu signed a memorandum of understanding between UNU and NU to advance academic collaboration in areas of common interest, such as policy-relevant research that advances planetary health. At Nagasaki University, Prof. Marwala gave a lecture on the theme of “Governance of AI in Health”.
The Rector's visit to Nagasaki and Hiroshima received coverage (in Japanese) by NHK, Yomiuri Shimbun, Chugoku Shimbun, Nagasaki Broadcasting and Seikyo Shimbun.
Since arriving at UNU in March 2023, Prof. Marwala has made it his mission to travel to, and deliver lectures in, all 47 prefectures of Japan. Upon completing this recent trip, Prof. Marwala has travelled to 22 prefectures and presented 18 lectures.
