“On the morning of the return of Japan’s delegates from the Washington Conference, Ueno Park began a joyous celebration.
Though a rainy day and early for spring blossoms, the Tokyo Peace Exposition, according to the daily Tokyo Asahi, honored ‘the best of world culture’ and stood as ‘a harbringer of dazzling beauty’.
“Costing 6 million yen and comprising almost fifty pavilions, a 110,000-sqaure-meter natural lake, two triumphal gates, a signature ‘peace tower’ and a ‘peace bell’, the four-month extravaganza became the largest Japanese exposition to date.
“… With the tolling of the peace bell, several dozen doves flew ‘happily’ toward the skies.
Festival chair Prince Kan’in, backed by a stage adorned with celebratory pine, plum and bamboo, officially opened the expo by declaring world sentiment fed up with ‘the ghastly evils of war’ and ‘full admiration for the happiness of peace’.