🕊 Oath of Peace Statue – A Mother’s Hope for Future Generations
Located outside JR Ōi-machi Station, the striking “Oath of Peace” Statue (平和の誓い像) was unveiled in March 1986 as a powerful symbol of Shinagawa’s 1985 declaration as a non-nuclear peace city. Sculpted by artist Ikuhisa Koganemaru (小金丸幾久), the statue captures a poignant moment of intergenerational hope and responsibility.
The bronze statue stands 4 meters tall on a white granite pedestal shaped to resemble a nuclear mushroom cloud as a solemn reminder of the past. A mother lifts the emblem of Shinagawa’s peace declaration high into the sky with her right hand, while a small boy gazes upward, embodying the duty to pass this spirit on to the next generation.
Shinagawa Declaration of a Non-nuclear Peace Area
At the present time, on earth the human race has accumulated a nuclear arsenal quite sufficient to totally destroy itself.
No weapon has ever been developed which has not at some time been put to use.
History bears witness to this terrifying truth.
We must lose no time in ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
Before the glaring flash fills the sky above our heads.
If we are too late, we will not even be left with a future to lament our failure. With the heartfelt plea that nuclear weapons be abolished and permanent peace be established, Shinagawa City declares itself a Non-nuclear Peace Area and makes its appeal to the world.
We refuse to allow the manufacture, placement or introduction of nuclear weapons, by whatever country, for whatever reason.
To countries holding such weapons, we say, abandon your nuclear armaments immediately!
For the future of this beautiful, irreplaceable earth and for all things living that exist upon it.
✌️ A Symbol for Peace
Shinagawa’s commitment to peace and nuclear disarmament is represented in this Oath of Peace statue. Its prominent location ensures that commuters and residents alike are reminded daily of the importance of peace, dialogue, and the responsibility each generation bears toward the future.
Replicas of the Oath of Peace statue
Additionally, it is only one of several created by Koganemaru. While the one at Ōi-machi is the original, smaller versions are found at Nishi-Ōi Station, Ōsaki New City, Gotanda Culture Center, and inside the Shinagawa Library.
🌏 SGI Culture Award
In 1986, the “Oath of Peace” statue received the SGI Culture Award from Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a global Buddhist network dedicated to peace, culture, and education. SGI promotes cultural exchange, nonviolence, and humanistic values rooted in Nichiren Buddhism. The award was given in recognition of the statue’s symbolic role in promoting world peace and its connection to Shinagawa Ward’s 1985 nuclear-free declaration. SGI, with millions of members across more than 190 countries, continues to advocate for disarmament and intercultural understanding.
📍 Visitor Information
Best season: Year-round, especially during peace-related memorial days
Admission: Free
Note: As it stands on a busy plaza, take care when photographing the statue or reading the signage.
Official Info. Shinagawa City
Where is it?
| what3words | ///evaded.prepared.empty |
| latitude longitude | 35.606217, 139.734283 |
| Nearest station(s) | Ōimachi Station (JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, Rinkai Line, Tokyu Ōimachi Line) |
| Nearest public conveniences | Inside Ōi-machi Station and nearby stores. |
Show me a sign.
The statue is large and hard to miss just outside the station in the middle of a traffic island. This sign is mounted discreetly at foot-level near the base.
Withervee says…
You don’t expect emotional resonance outside a train station, but here it is. Poignant, peaceful, and worth pausing for.
The plaza can be busy, but it’s worth ducking around to see the statue from different angles.
The previous sign was virtually illegible.
I’m glad that my efforts in highlighting this have paid off and the old sign has been replaced. (Or, that more likely, somebody else pointed it out.)
Site Character
- Lifestyle 生活 (Seikatsu): ✔️
- Historical Significance 歴史 (Rekishi): ✔️
- Atmosphere/Natural Features 風土 (Fūdo): ✔️
Who in their right mind would vote for this?
- Peace advocates
- Local commuters
- Parents with children
- Public art fans
- Historians
Further reading
Shinagawa Declaration of Nuclear-Free Peace City
While you’re there…
If it’s on when you’re there (and trust me, you will know that it’s on) visit the Oi Dontaku Festival nearby. Or there’s shops, cafe’s, restaurants and St. Drunkard. Not a canonization I’ve heard about. Perhaps an Eastern Orthodox saint.
