About the Peace Bell

The United Nations recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Peace Bell that was presented to the UN in June 1954 by the United Nations Association of Japan. The Peace Bell was made from coins collected by people in more than 60 countries and is protected by a typical Japanese structure made of cypress wood that resembles a Shinto shrine. On one side of the bell, the words -- "Long live world peace" -- are inscribed in Japanese. The stone base of the structure was donated by Israel.

It has become tradition to ring the bell twice a year, once on the first day of spring and once on the opening day of the General Assembly's annual session in September.

You can listen to the Japanese Peace Bell by clicking on it!

Watch a webcast (Archived video) of Secretary-General Kofi Annan ringing the Peace Bell on 21 September.

Click on the Peace Bell to hear it ring three times Requires Real Player

It is our most sincere hope that the deep and calming sounds of the Peace Bell will continue to remind us all of the importance of Peace.

-- His Excellency Ambassador Koichi Haraguchi Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN on the 50th anniversary of the Peace Bell