On September 21, 2026, the International Day of Peace, the “Peace Bell” ringing ceremony was held at St. Andrew’s Church in Minato-ku, Tokyo, despite severe weather caused by an approaching typhoon.
Now in its sixth year since first being held at Zojoji Temple in 2020, the ceremony was attended by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike as a guest of honor, along with officials of the United Nations Association of Japan, including Vice President Sukehiro Hasegawa, who served as Chair of the Executive Committee; Managing Director Tomokiyo Tanaka; Director Fumio Shishino; and Secretary-General Masakuni Tanimoto. Deputy Director Yoko Sekiguchi of the Policy Planning Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, also attended.
The participants renewed their prayers for peace in this milestone year marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s admission to the United Nations.
The Peace Bell was cast in 1954 from coins collected from around the world by the United Nations Association of Japan and donated to the United Nations. It is rung each year in connection with the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.