Annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration 2026

Held annually on August 6 at the Peace Park Pavilion in Alton Baker Park, the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration honors the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945 and calls for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. 

This free, family-friendly gathering runs from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and features taiko drumming, speakers, Obon dancing, calligraphy, and a lantern ceremony at dusk.

The event is presented by the Asian American Council of Oregon in partnership with the City of Eugene.

Past commemoration event activities include:

* In 2024, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots Japanese survivors organization, for their global efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.  Learn more about Nihom Hidankyo, and view the Nobel Award Ceremony Speech.

* In 2022, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui delivered this Peace Declaration in English to reach farther and wider around the globe. Watch this moving video here.

* On August 6, 2019, A Hiroshima Peace Tree was planted in Alton Baker Park in Eugene. Watch the video here. Also, view this interactive map showing all Peace Tree locations planted in Oregon.

For more information about the peace tree, see the work of Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative and One Sunny Day Initiative.

Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration 2026

7:00 pm      Eugene Taiko

7:15 p.m.    Welcome. Emcee: Former Mayor Kitty Piercy

7:20 p.m.    Prayer to Ancestors: Rev. Mark Unno,

7:25 p.m.    Speaker: Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson

7:40 pm      Letter from Mayor of Hiroshima–read by Mike Takahashi

7:45pm       Music–Kami Hendrix and choir–Hana wa Saku (Flowers Will Bloom)

                            —Buck Mueller–What Have They Done to the Rain?

8:00pm       Call to Action–CALC, Michael Carrigan

8:05pm.      Acknowledgement–Asian American Council of Oregon

                                                –Hiroshima Planning Committee

8:10pm.      Obon Dance–led by Mike Takahashi

8:25pm       Update and viewing of Persimmon Peace Tree–Helen Liu

                   Acknowledgement–COE Parks and Open Space

 8:30 p.m.    Procession to Lantern Floating Ceremony at the pond

HIroshima flyer 2026 FB POST