Plaque bearing Mr Weizsäcker’s peace message unveiled at Meio University

Plaque bearing Mr Weizsäcker's peace message unveiled at Meio University

A plaque to honor late Richard von Weizsäcker, who previously gave a peace message to students, was renewed at Meio University, Nago. The unveiling ceremony was held on June 22.


June 22, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

Meio University has set up a commemorative plaque honoring late Richard von Weizsäcker’s peace message beside a Hikanzakura cherry tree he previously planted at the campus in Nago.

Weizsäcker, the first President of Germany after unification, was invited to speak at an event to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the university’s establishment in April 1999. He gave a lecture on the theme of the future of Okinawa, and planted a Hikanzakura cherry tree. The university had set up a wooden plaque in commemoration of this event, but it had become old. The university renewed it with a stone plaque.

On June 22, ahead of the Okinawa Memorial Day, the unveiling ceremony for the plaque was held in the courtyard of the university.

Participants renewed their determination to foster peace, which is one of the fundamental goals of the university. Ninety-six-year-old Frank Higashi, American citizen and elder brother of the late emeritus president of the university Yasuharu Agarie, attended the ceremony. Higashi joined the Battle of Okinawa as an interpreter soldier and saved many Okinawa residents.

(English translation by T&CT)

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