La Paz Internacional de Yokohama Mide

Based on the idea that friendship and mutual understanding between cities leads to world peace, the City of Yokohama has formed sister and friendship city relationships with eight cities, starting with San Diego, USA in 1957. We are also engaging in friendly exchanges with other cities across the world. With a central focus on provision of support for the activities of international organizations, Yokohama takes part in international collaborative projects, technological cooperation and so forth in an active effort to promote peace and growth throughout international society.

The Yokohama City Council passed the following resolutions regarding Peace Cities:

1970: Resolution on Peace City Declaration
1984: Resolution on Non-Nuclear Peace City Declaration

In 1986, a year designated by the United Nations as an International Year of Peace, Yokohama City formed the Yokohama International Year of Peace Commemorative Project Executive Committee and carried out peace symposiums, overseas dispatches of children as Messengers of Peace and various other international peace projects. Los esfuerzos de Yokohama y proyectos fueron alabados favorablemente por los Naciones Unidas y en 1987 la ciudad se designó como un Mensajero de Paz.

Following the 1986 United Nations Youth Peace Ambassador Dispatch Program, the Board of Education began implementing the Youth International Peace Program in 1987, consisting of events such as speech contests for children on international peace, collection of donations for international peace, and dispatch of children under the UN as peace messengers.

Since 1993, the City of Yokohama has implemented lectures, symposiums and panel exhibitions to inform the citizens about its measures for international peace and encourage the citizens to think about the importance of international peace.

The City of Yokohama sent letters of protest to France and China in 1995, and has continued to issue letters of protest from our mayor to the leaders of countries that have announced intentions to perform nuclear tests (including sub-critical tests), calling for the ban of nuclear testing, abolition of nuclear weapons and achievement of lasting peace.