The Japan-America Society of Georgia and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, in cooperation with the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Atlanta, are constructing a traditional Japanese bell tower to hang President Center’s “Peace Bell” on the grounds of The Carter Center. The bell tower, intended to be a symbol of friendship between the people of Japan and Georgia, will raise awareness of the contributions of President Jimmy Carter to the Japan-Georgia relationship, as well as highlight economic, cultural, educational, and political ties between Japan and Georgia. The “Japan-Georgia Friendship Bell Tower” will be a replica of the bell tower at Shoganji Temple in Konu, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture where the bell originated in Japan. Construction will be directed by carpenters from Konu and will be completed by President Carter’s 98^th birthday on October 1, 2022. 

During World War II, an ordinance to collect metals was promulgated throughout Japan, and the temple bell from Shoganji Temple in Konu was supplied to the Kure Naval Arsenal. However, before the bell could be turned into bullets, the war ended. Following the war, the bell ended up in England, where it resided for a time with James Taylor. His son, Milos, discovered the bell in 1958 while sorting through his father’s belongings. In 1982, Milos moved to East Orange Park, Florida with the bell. In 1985, before returning to England, Milos put the bell up for sale. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta and the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta solicited donations to purchase the bell, and on July 24, 1985, Consul General  of Japan in Atlanta Tadayuki Nonoyama and Hiromitsu Araki, Chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, presented the bell on behalf of the Japanese community to President and Mrs. Carter to commemorate the construction of The Carter Center, the groundbreaking of the Japanese Garden, and in appreciation for President Carter’s work promoting world peace.  

When Hajime Akiyama, a member of the Japanese parliament, visited The Carter Center after the bell was donated, he discovered that the bell was inscribed with the name of Shoganji Temple. On September 26, 1987, Mr. Akiyama, together with Noriyuki Oku, former Consul General of Japan in Atlanta, visited Shoganji to report that their temple bell had been donated to President Carter. Shoganji was very pleased to learn that their temple bell, which they thought had been destroyed, was in fact carefully preserved at The Carter Center as the “Peace Bell,” a symbol of goodwill between Japan and the United States.  

The mayor of Konu invited President Carter to visit, which he did, together with Amy, on October 21, 1990. President Carter’s visit consisted of the unveiling of a monument featuring his handwritten message at Shoganji Temple and his expectations for world peace and mutual exchange through the “Bell of Friendship,” the replica bell the people of Konu had constructed.

The following year, Konu (now Miyoshi City) and Americus, GA established a sister city relationship. Visits between the two cities continue annually to this day. President Carter has always taken time to meet the students from Konu and teach them Sunday school in Plains. In return, the people of Konu have hosted delegations from Americus. 

In 1994, Miyoshi built the Jimmy Carter Civic Center, which includes a gallery called the Peace Learning Center that tells the story of President Carter’s life, his presidency, and the work of the Carter Center in Atlanta. On July 7, 1994, President and Mrs. Carter attended the opening ceremony for the building. Today, Konu’s main street is named Carter Avenue and the town boasts a baseball stadium named after President Carter as well as four houses built to resemble homes in Plains, Georgia. Many of Konu’s farmers grow “Carter Peanuts,” and there is a Carter Peanut Festival each year in November.  

“The Carter Center has been the paragon of the Japan-Georgia relationship for many decades and in many areas ranging from business relationship, cultural exchange, youth exchange, sister city relationships and many others,” said Kazuyuki Takeuchi, Consul General of Japan in Atlanta. “What lies as the underlying guiding light has always been the Carters' vison of and dedication to peace and humanity. The Peace Bell donated by the Japanese community in Georgia to The Carter Center in 1985 has been a symbol of such steadfast relationship between Japan and Georgia. The Bell Tower initiative is sure to bring it to a new height by enshrining the bell in a fitting abode on the premises of The Carter Center. Just as the then Consul General represented the Japanese community along with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce when the bell was donated in 1985, I am wholeheartedly delighted to be able to cooperate with this initiative.”

“The Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia is dedicated to supporting the activities of Japanese companies and people in Georgia,” said Nagachika Kikuno, Chair of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia. “By introducing Japan and its culture to the local community, we are not only able to deepen their understanding of Japan but also to strengthen the exchange between the U.S. and Japan, which in turn will increase the presence of the Japanese community. Understanding and exchange are difficult to express in a tangible way. By participating in this project, we believe that we will be able to express the meaning and importance of deepening mutual understanding and continuing exchange through the symbol of the Peace Bell. We hope that the Peace Bell will continue to speak to us about the importance of exchange between Japan and the U.S. for many years to come in Georgia.” 

“We can think of no better place in Georgia to build a symbol of enduring friendship between Japan and Georgia than on the grounds of The Carter Center, an organization started by a man who has dedicated his life to ‘waging peace,’” said Jessica Cork, Chair of The Japan-America Society of Georgia. “From his work while governor to recruit Japanese companies to invest in Georgia, to his multiple visits to Japan, including two trips to Hiroshima, to hosting students from Hiroshima each year in Plains, President Carter has been building bridges between Japan and Georgia his entire career. When students from Hiroshima visited with President Carter several years ago, he told them, ‘I think it’s very important for all of the students ... to remember the importance of peace, human rights, and love for one another, and the principles that never change in our lives.’ This bell tower will serve as an important reminder of President Carter’s words.” 

“The Japan-Georgia Friendship Bell Tower will not only be a symbol of friendship between Japan and Georgia but will also make Japanese companies feel they are welcome here in Georgia, which will lead to closer economic relations,” said Takuya Takahashi, Chief Executive Director, JETRO Atlanta. 

To learn how to get involved, visit  www.jasgeorgia.org/Georgia-Japan-Peace-Bell/.