Part of remains of Japan politician wife buried in Irkutsk region.

19/8 Tass 24

IRKUTSK, August 19 (Itar-Tass) - A ceremony to bury part of remains of
Akiko Mori, the wife of renowned Japanese politician Shigeki Mori, will be
held on Thursday in the city of Shelekhov, Irkutsk region.
Akiko Mori was the second wife of Shigeki Mori, and one of his sons -
Yoshiro Mori - was Japanese prime minister. About 40 years ago, the city
of Shelekhov and Japanese Neagari (now Nomi) became twin cities, sources
from the regional government told Tass.
Neagari's Mayor Shigeki Mori initiated the development of relations
between the two cities. He participated in WWII, was wounded and had
awards. When returning home after captivity he became an active champion
of peace and close relations with Russia, and headed the branch of the
Japan-USSR Friendship Society in his home Ishikawa Prefecture. He was many
times reelected as Mayor of Neagari.
Shigeki Mori often visited Shelekhov, bringing groups of children,
athletes and artists to that city. He became honored citizen of Shelekhov
and honored worker of the leading enterprise - aluminum plant. Once he
made a speech, saying at the end "We are all perishable in this world, and
I am not an exception. That is why I ask you to bury part of my remains in
your city after I die. If it is possible, please allot a site at the
cemetery where my remains will be buried".
Shigeki Mori's second wife Akiko and sons, including Yoshiro, came to
Shelekhov in 1991 for the ceremony to bury part of his remains. A monument
from Baikal granite with the name of Shigeki Mori carved in two languages
can be seen in the central alley of the city cemetery.
"Akiko outlived Shigeki by almost 20 years and died at the beginning
of this year. The Mori family decided to bring part of her remains to
Shelekhov to bury them near he husband's remains," sources from the
regional government said.
They also said that region's Governor Dmitry Mezentsev would take part
in the burial ceremony.
-0-zhe/ast


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